bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barriers to BIM implementation and ways forward to improve its adoption in the Nigerian AEC firms
Authors: Babatunde Solomon Olusola , Udeaja Chika , Adekunle Adedayo Opeyemi
Published: March 2020

Purpose

BIM has much potential to improve the effectiveness of construction works with respect to design, construction and maintenance. However, many Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms are still lagging in the adoption and implementation of BIM in both developing and developed countries. The purpose of this study is to assess the barriers to BIM implementation, and examine the ways forward to improve BIM adoption within the Nigerian AEC firms.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive literature review and questionnaire survey were used in the study. The survey targeted four different AEC firms. These include architectural firms, facility management firms, quantity surveying firms and structural engineering firms in Lagos, Nigeria. The data obtained were analyzed using mean score, standard deviation, Kruskal–Wallis test, and factor analysis.

Findings

The study identified 20 barriers to BIM implementation and identified ten ways forward to improve BIM adoption in AEC firms, particularly in Nigeria. The relative importance of both the identified barriers and the ways forward were gauged. The Kruskal–Wallis tests revealed that except for one (out of 20) identified barriers, and one (out of 10) identified ways forward; there is no statistical significant difference in the perceptions of four different AEC firms. The factor analysis result grouped the 20 identified barriers into three major factors to include: weak top management support and BIM environment related issues; cost of BIM software and training issues; and incompatibility, legal, contractual, and culture related issues.

Practical implications

The significance of the study cannot be over-emphasized due to BIM relevance to construction stakeholders and researchers at large.

Originality/value

The study findings would inform the decisions of the construction stakeholders to make some policy recommendations capable of positively influencing the full BIM implementation in AEC firms.
Identify strategies for cooperatives in East Java with analytic hierarchical process
Authors: Hermawati Adya
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to test, analyze, review and describe the problem of “How effective strategies for cooperatives development in East Java.”

Design/methodology/approach

The sample of this study was all cooperative employees in East Java province. The study focuses on the quantitative and qualitative approaches, sampling techniques with purposive sampling on employees of all cooperative districts/cities in East Java. A quantitative approach that is an inferential statistical analysis using the analytic hierarchical process (AHP) method was applied with a diagram/hierarchy.

Findings

The results of this study is the quality of work life criteria, which have an overall weight of 35%, play an important role in experts’ choice of employee performance measurement indicator selection. The development strategy goal for this study is as follows: work behavior (first place), work result (second place) and personal characteristics (third place).

Originality/value

This paper uses the AHP tool to identify strategies for cooperatives in East Java, which are rarely used in previous research, as well as the location of the research (cooperatives in Malang, Indonesia) that has not been studied in depth in other studies.
The application of scam compliance models to investment fraud offending
Authors: Lacey David , Goode Sigi , Pawada Jerry , Gibson Dennis
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to undertake an exploratory study on mapping the investment fraud methods and tactics used by scammers against the emerging literature on scam compliance.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative interviews were conducted with victims of investment fraud supported by the engagement of specialist counsellors and allied health professionals who specialise in scam victim support (including investment fraud).

Findings

Investment fraud offending in the cases sampled exhibited a number of dominant offending traits and methodological themes. These included a strong reliance or dependency on legitimate service provisioning on the part of the fraudster and the use of key trust measures to lure the victim. The empirical data revealed the presence of a number of scam compliance influences captured in the literature, including trust, social influence and urgency, as well as others not previously documented that pave the way for further research attention.

Research limitations/implications

The research only examined a sample of investment fraud victim experiences that engaged a national victim support service immediately following detection over a 24 month period.

Practical implications

The research found that offending relied upon the participation of trust-building signals and measures. Legitimate economy participants appear to play a dominant role in enabling investment scam activities, further creating efficiencies for criminals. The offending tended to follow a number of distinct but connected phases. Impacts were influenced by specific offending attributes, such as whether remote access was given to offenders of a victim’s device, as well as the nature of the identity credentials access.

Originality/value

The research has practically applied an emerging view of scam compliance influences and vulnerabilities within an investment fraud context. The study is novel in its thematic analysis of the distinct phases and tactics used by scammers.
Species temporal persistence promotes the stability of fruit–frugivore interactions across a 5‐year multilayer network
Authors: Costa José M. , Ramos Jaime A. , Timóteo Sérgio , da Silva Luís P. , Ceia Ricardo S. , Heleno Ruben H.
Published: March 2020

Biological communities are intrinsically dynamic, with species and interactions changing over time. However, the temporal dynamics of species interaction networks is usually assessed using independent ‘snapshot’ networks, which may provide an incomplete representation of ecological processes. The use of temporal multilayer networks, where networks (i.e. layers) are formally interconnected via interlayer links, can circumvent such limitation, allowing for a more realistic characterization of community structure and better predictions regarding long‐term processes that rely on species interactions, such as seed dispersal.

We used a 5‐year bird–seed dispersal dataset to explore species and interaction turnover across years, network structure variability and the relationship between species topological roles on each year and their temporal persistence (i.e. species activity). We then implemented a temporal multilayer network approach to compute overall species versatility (centrality) and to reveal the modular structure of the 5‐year multilayer network using changes in species relative abundances as proxies for the interlayer links between time‐sequential networks.

Network topology remained relatively constant across years and interaction turnover was mostly due to true rewiring (new links) between species. Overall, birds, some of which migratory, were temporally more reliable than fleshy‐fruited plants. Interestingly, species present across more years tended to be more important to the structure of each years' seed dispersal network, independently of their relative abundance. The multilayer analysis identified four modules of tightly interacting species, all of which spanning across the 5 years, and with a greater stability in the composition of bird species when compared to plants.

Synthesis. Bird and plant species that are present in more years in the seed dispersal network were also disproportionally important in each year, forming a core of temporally reliable interacting partners for transient species in the network.
Different Worlds Confirmatory Versus Exploratory Research
Authors: Schwab Simon , Held Leonhard
Published: March 2020

Simon Schwab and Leonhard Held explain the differences between confirmatory and exploratory research and the dangers of confusing the two concepts
Florence Nightingale's Network: Women, Power, and Scientific Collaboration
Authors: Lorenzo-Arribas Altea , Cacheiro Pilar
Published: March 2020

Altea Lorenzo-Arribas and Pilar Cacheiro delve into Nightingale's trove of correspondence and papers to produce a map of the social reformer's social network
Thermal Diversity of Salmon Streams in the Matanuska‐Susitna Basin, Alaska
Authors: Shaftel Rebecca , Mauger Sue , Falke Jeff , Rinella Daniel , Davis Jeff , Jones Leslie
Published: March 2020

We present the first description of summer stream thermal regimes in Alaska using metrics that represent the magnitude, variability, frequency, duration, and timing of temperature events related to salmon life histories. We used cluster analysis to characterize thermal regimes present in the Matanuska‐Susitna (Mat‐Su) Basin based on 10 nonredundant temperature metrics and identified the most important drivers of our thermal regimes using random forests. Our results indicated four distinct thermal regimes among the 248 site‐years in the Mat‐Su Basin. Over 41% of site‐years had cold‐stable temperatures. An additional 22% of site‐years had cold‐variable temperatures and the latest timing of maximum stream temperatures. Twenty‐eight percent of site‐years had warm‐variable temperatures that remained above 13°C for approximately two months. The remaining 9% of site‐years had the warmest and most variable daily maximum temperatures, exceeding 18°C for almost one month, indicating potential impacts to spawning and rearing salmon. Climate and landscape drivers differentiating thermal regimes included spring and summer air temperatures, spring snowpack, summer precipitation, wetlands, and lakes. Climate change projections for 2050–2069 indicated a future shift toward warm thermal regimes and a reduced portfolio of thermal diversity. These results portend negative impacts to some salmon populations and stress the importance of prioritizing actions that maintain thermal regime diversity.
Trends in marijuana use in two Latin American countries: an age, period and cohort study
Authors: Castillo‐Carniglia Alvaro , Rivera‐Aguirre Ariadne , Calvo Esteban , Queirolo Rosario , Keyes Katherine M. , Cerdá Magdalena
Published: March 2020

Background and Aims

Uruguay and Chile have the highest levels of marijuana use in Latin America, and have experienced consistent increases during the last two decades. We aim to calculate separate age–period–cohort (APC) effects for past‐year marijuana use in Uruguay and Chile, which have similar epidemiologica, and demographic profiles but diverging paths in cannabis regulation.

Design

APC study in which period and cohort effects were estimated as first derivative deviations from their linear age trend, separately by country and gender.

Setting

Uruguay and Chile.

Participants

General population between 15 and 64 years.

Measurements

Past‐year marijuana use from household surveys with five repeated cross‐sections between 2001 and 2018 in Uruguay (median n = 4616) and 13 between 1994 and 2018 in Chile (median n = 15 895).

Findings

Marijuana use prevalence in both countries peaked at 20–24 years of age and increased consistently across calendar years. Period effects were strong and positive, indicating that increases in use were evident across age groups. Relative to 2006 (reference year), Chilean period effects were approximately 48% lower in 1994 and approximately four times higher in 2018; in Uruguay, these effects were approximately 56% lower in 2001 and almost quadrupled in 2018. We observed non‐linear cohort effects in Chile and similar patterns in Uruguay for the overall sample and women. In both countries, marijuana use increased for cohorts born between the mid‐1970s and early 1990s, even in the context of rising period effects. Prevalence was consistently larger for men, but period increases were stronger in women.

Conclusions

Age–period–cohort effects on past‐year marijuana use appear to have been similar in Chile and Uruguay, decreasing with age and increasing over time at heterogeneous growth rates depending on gender and cohort. Current levels of marijuana use, including age and gender disparities, seem to be associated with recent common historical events in these two countries.
‘Always take your doctor’s advice’: Does trust moderate the effect of information on inappropriate antibiotic prescribing expectations?
Authors: Thorpe Alistair , Sirota Miroslav , Juanchich Marie , Orbell Sheina
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To reduce overprescribing, health campaigns urge physicians to provide people with information regarding appropriate antibiotic use and encourage the public to trust their physicians’ prescribing decisions. We test (1) whether providing individuals with complete information about the viral aetiology of an illness and the ineffectiveness of antibiotics will reduce inappropriate antibiotic expectations, (2) whether individuals with greater trust in their physician will have lower expectations, and (3) whether individuals with greater trust in their physician will benefit more from the complete information provision and have lower expectations.

Design

Experiment 1 features a between‐subjects design (information provision: baseline vs. complete information) with a general measure of participants’ trust in their physician. Experiment 2 features a 2 (physician trustworthiness: low vs. high) × 2 (information provision: baseline vs. complete information) between‐subjects design.

Methods

In Experiment 1, participants (n = 366) reported their trust in their physician, read a vignette describing a hypothetical consultation with a physician for a viral cold and then expressed their expectations for antibiotics. In Experiment 2, participants (n = 380) read a vignette of a consultation with a physician for a viral ear infection then expressed their expectations for antibiotics.

Results

In both experiments, the provision of complete information significantly reduced inappropriate expectations for antibiotics. Greater trust in physicians was associated with higher antibiotic expectations in Experiment 1, but lower expectations in Experiment 2. In both experiments, trust in physicians appeared to facilitate the effect of information provision, but this effect was weak and inconsistent.

Conclusion

Providing information about viral aetiology and the ineffectiveness and side effects of antibiotics reduces inappropriate antibiotic expectations. Further research into the effect of trust in physicians as a moderator of the effect information provision is required, particularly given the recent increase in trust‐based antibiotic campaigns.

Statement of contribution

What is already known

Inappropriate expectations for antibiotics encourage overprescribing in primary care.

To reduce inappropriate expectations, interventions often aim to educate people about antibiotics and encourage them to trust their physician.

What does this study add

Causal evidence that clinical information provision reduces but does not eliminate inappropriate antibiotic expectations.

We find that increased trust in physicians is not always associated with lower expectations for antibiotics.

Although increased trust seemed to boost the effect of information provision, this effect was weak and inconsistent.
Derivation of porcine extraembryonic endoderm‐like cells from blastocysts
Authors: Li Yan , Wu Shuang , Yu Yang , Zhang Heng , Wei Renyue , Lv Jiawei , Cai Mingming , Yang Xu , Zhang Yu , Liu Zhonghua
Published: March 2020

Objectives

Extraembryonic endoderm (XEN) cells are isolated from primitive endoderm (PrE) of blastocysts. Just like PrE, XEN cells have the ability to differentiate into parietal endoderm (PE) and visceral endoderm (VE), and therefore, they are useful tools for studying mechanisms of PrE cells development and differentiation. Pig is an ideal model for studying human cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and a potential organ source for allotransplantation, while no XEN cell has been obtained from porcine embryos.

Materials and Methods

Using a serum‐free culture system, we directly derived porcine extraembryonic endoderm‐like cells (pXEN‐like cells) from day 6‐7 blastocysts, which could maintain self‐renewal for at least 30 passages.

Results

The pXEN‐like cells resembled mouse XEN cells with large and flat clone morphology and expressed XEN marker genes but not pluripotent genes. Upon in vitro induction, the cells could differentiate into VE and PE. FGF/MEK signalling was not only essential for the maintenance of pXEN‐like cells, but also the induction of pXEN‐like cells from porcine embryonic stem (pES) cells.

Conclusions

We directly obtained cell lines with XEN characteristics from porcine embryos for the first time. The cells will be helpful tools for studying embryonic development and cell differentiation, which also represent promising cell sources for human regenerative medicine.
Aleukemia cutis: Clinicopathological and molecular investigation of two cases
Authors: Azari‐Yaam Aileen , Safavi Moeinadin , Ghanadan Alireza
Published: March 2020

We describe two cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who presented with cutaneous manifestations. Leukemia cutis (LC) is the cutaneous presentation of any type of leukemia and occurs in 10% to 15% of patients with AML, but cutaneous infiltration of AML rarely precedes the involvement of the bone marrow or peripheral blood and is called “aleukemia cutis.” Our first case presented with facial skin thickening, a manifestation which is known as lionization and his initial clinical diagnosis was nonspecific allergic reaction. Our second case presented with urticaria‐like lesions with the initial clinical and histomorphologic diagnoses of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Histopathologic examination of skin biopsy specimens in both patients showed diffuse infiltration of the dermis with a monotonous population of intermediate‐sized mononuclear cells by open chromatin and promonocytic features. Bone marrow aspiration leukocyte karyotyping showed normal cytogenetics, and molecular investigation revealed mutations of NPM1 and FLT3 genes. Somatic CEBPA gene mutation was negative in both patients. LC as the first manifestation of leukemia is very rare and could result in delayed diagnosis and affect patient prognosis.
Incretin combination therapy for the treatment of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Kannt Aimo , Madsen Andreas Nygaard , Kammermeier Claire , Elvert Ralf , Klöckener Tim , Bossart Martin , Haack Torsten , Evers Andreas , Lorenz Katrin , Hennerici Wolfgang , Rocher Corinne , Böcskei Zsolt , Guillemot Jean‐Claude , Mikol Vincent , Pattou Francois , Staels Bart , Wagner Michael
Published: March 2020

Aims

To test specific mono‐agonists to the glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor (GLP‐1R), glucagon receptor (GCGR) and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic peptide receptor (GIPR), individually and in combination, in a mouse model of diet‐induced non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis in order to decipher the contribution of their activities and potential additive effects to improving systemic and hepatic metabolism.

Materials and methods

We induced NASH by pre‐feeding C57BL/6J mice a diet rich in fat, fructose and cholesterol for 36 weeks. This was followed by 8 weeks of treatment with the receptor‐specific agonists 1‐GCG (20 μg/kg twice daily), 2‐GLP1 (3 μg/kg twice daily) or 3‐GIP (30 μg/kg twice daily), or the dual (1 + 2) or triple (1 + 2 + 3) combinations thereof. A dual GLP‐1R/GCGR agonistic peptide, 4‐dual‐GLP1/GCGR (30 μg/kg twice daily), and liraglutide (100 μg/kg twice daily) were included as references.

Results

Whereas low‐dose 1‐GCG or 3‐GIP alone did not influence body weight, liver lipids and histology, their combination with 2‐GLP1 provided additional weight loss, reduction in liver triglycerides and improvement in histological disease activity score. Notably, 4‐dual‐GLP‐1R/GCGR and the triple combination of selective mono‐agonists led to a significantly stronger reduction in the histological non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score compared to high‐dose liraglutide, at the same extent of body weight loss.

Conclusions

GCGR and GIPR agonism provide additional, body weight‐independent improvements on top of GLP‐1R agonism in a murine model of manifest NASH with fibrosis.
Differential response among chestnut traditional varieties to the attack of Cydia splendana
Authors: Cuestas Maria Isabel , Martin Maria Angela , Aldebis Hani Kassim , Mena Juan Diego , Martin Luis Miguel , Vargas‐Osuna Enrique
Published: March 2020

Fruit production of Castanea sativa Miller (Fagaceae) in southern Spain is carried out in traditional orchards using a large number of local varieties. The main areas of production are located in the Natural Park of Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche (Huelva) and the Genal river Valley (Malaga). These agroforestry systems have shown a high genetic diversity and represent an example of in situ conservation. In this region, chestnut mainly suffers from attacks by Cydia splendana (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), whose larvae feed on the fruits, thereby reducing their quality and economic value. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differential response between the chestnut local varieties to the attack of C. splendana. For that purpose, trees from the most representative varieties were evaluated on various farms. In cases where it was necessary, the trees were identified with a set of eight microsatellite markers. The infestation rate of C. splendana (percentage of infested fruits of the total fruits sampled per tree) differed among varieties, indicating a high genetic component in this effect. The results obtained in this study open the possibility of using this differential response in the control of C. splendana.
Practitioner eating disorder detection: The influence of health mindset, thin‐ideal internalization, orthorexia and gender role
Authors: Worsfold Kate A. , Sheffield Jeanie K.
Published: March 2020

Aims

The current study sought to determine what factors inhibited psychologists, naturopaths and fitness instructors from detecting an eating disorder (ED), and the discipline differences across these factors.

Methods

Participants of the online study were 115 health practitioners who consisted of 35 psychologists, 50 naturopathic and 30 fitness practitioners. A vignette describing a female experiencing a sub‐threshold bulimic variant without purging was presented alongside ED mental health literacy items such as assessing one's ability to detect a problem. Additional items examined factors that may inhibit detection, including practitioners' level of: thin‐ideal internalization, orthorexia, health or fitness mindset (a newly developed scale measuring health and fitness obsessiveness) and gender role identity.

Results

A significant number of naturopaths and fitness instructors (20% and 33.3%, respectively) were found to have elevated orthorexia scores. Similarly, psychologists had the greatest tendency to internalize the thin‐ideal (M = 3.60), which was comparable to levels seen in recent research for 20‐ to 21‐year‐old females with EDs. The two largest factors inhibiting ED detection were the strength of a health mindset and gender role identity. Practitioners who had higher health mindset scores or who associated with gender identities higher in masculinity traits (ie, either androgynous or masculine gender roles) were more likely to miss detecting an ED.

Conclusions

While many present ED studies focus upon assessing and changing client cognitions, this study emphasizes the need for further research regarding training interventions to address practitioner cognitions and gender role biases, which may in turn improve ED detection.
Assessing the reliability of predicted plant trait distributions at the global scale
Authors: Boonman Coline C. F. , Benítez‐López Ana , Schipper Aafke M. , Thuiller Wilfried , Anand Madhur , Cerabolini Bruno E. L. , Cornelissen Johannes H. C. , Gonzalez‐Melo Andres , Hattingh Wesley N. , Higuchi Pedro , Laughlin Daniel C. , Onipchenko Vladimir G. , Peñuelas Josep , Poorter Lourens , Soudzilovskaia Nadejda A. , Huijbregts Mark A. J. , Santini Luca
Published: March 2020

Aim

Predictions of plant traits over space and time are increasingly used to improve our understanding of plant community responses to global environmental change. A necessary step forward is to assess the reliability of global trait predictions. In this study, we predict community mean plant traits at the global scale and present a systematic evaluation of their reliability in terms of the accuracy of the models, ecological realism and various sources of uncertainty.

Location

Global.

Time period

Present.

Major taxa studied

Vascular plants.

Methods

We predicted global distributions of community mean specific leaf area, leaf nitrogen concentration, plant height and wood density with an ensemble modelling approach based on georeferenced, locally measured trait data representative of the plant community. We assessed the predictive performance of the models, the plausibility of predicted trait combinations, the influence of data quality, and the uncertainty across geographical space attributed to spatial extrapolation and diverging model predictions.

Results

Ensemble predictions of community mean plant height, specific leaf area and wood density resulted in ecologically plausible trait–environment relationships and trait–trait combinations. Leaf nitrogen concentration, however, could not be predicted reliably. The ensemble approach was better at predicting community trait means than any of the individual modelling techniques, which varied greatly in predictive performance and led to divergent predictions, mostly in African deserts and the Arctic, where predictions were also extrapolated. High data quality (i.e., including intraspecific variability and a representative species sample) increased model performance by 28%.

Main conclusions

Plant community traits can be predicted reliably at the global scale when using an ensemble approach and high‐quality data for traits that mostly respond to large‐scale environmental factors. We recommend applying ensemble forecasting to account for model uncertainty, using representative trait data, and more routinely assessing the reliability of trait predictions.
Association between weight change over a period of 4 years and mortality in Korean older adults
Authors: Son Ki Young , Kwon Hyuktae , Park Jin Ho , Joh Hee‐Kyung , Hwang Seo Eun , Cho Su Hwan , Han Kyungdo , Cho Belong , Park Yong‐Gyu
Published: March 2020

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the association between weight change and mortality in Korean older adults.

Methods

We collected data pertaining to National Screening Program participants aged ≥65 years from the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation records during 2005–2011. To this data, we included mortality data, such as the date of death, of these patients (up to and including 2017) from Statistics Korea. We defined weight change as a difference in bodyweight measured in the National Screening Program over a period of 4 years. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the association between weight change and mortality.

Results

The study population consisted of 1 100 256 participants, and a total of 46 415 deaths were observed during a mean follow‐up period of 3.2 ± 0.8 years (maximum 5.0 years). For 3 531 585 person‐year follow up, the mortality rate for stable weight was 10.79 per 1000 person‐years (PY). Weight loss increased the mortality rate by 68%, whereas weight gain increased the rate by 10% compared with stable weight (weight loss: mortality rate 20.28 per 1000 PY, adjusted hazard ratio 1.68, 95% confidence interval 1.65–1.72; weight gain: mortality rate 12.86 per 1000 PY, adjusted hazard ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval 1.07–1.13). However, in subgroup analysis, for participants who were underweight at baseline, current cigarette smokers or heavy alcohol drinkers, weight gain did not increase the mortality rate.

Conclusions

In Korean older adults, regardless of the risk factors, both weight loss and weight gain increased the mortality rate compared with stable weight. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 474–481.
Joining oxide ceramic matrix composites by ionotropic gelation
Authors: Almeida Renato S. M. , Farhandi Hedieh , Tushtev Kamen , Rezwan Kurosch
Published: March 2020

The production of complex‐shaped all‐oxide ceramic matrix composites (Ox‐CMC) is somewhat restricted by their current processing methods, as well as by the lack of applicable joining techniques. Thus, we present a new method for joining Ox‐CMCs based on the gelation of slurries with the polysaccharide polymer alginate. For this investigation, Nextel 610/alumina‐zirconia composites were produced using alginate as binder and aluminum acetate as gelling agent. The joining capabilities of this technique were investigated with microstructural analyses and single‐lap compression shear tests. For that, a slurry‐containing alginate was used to join two composite plates at different stages of the processing: gel state, dried green body and after sintering. Joining composites plates in their gel or green state was successful as the joints showed shear strength values similar to the interlaminar shear strength of the composites plates. The quality of the joints was attributed to the interactions between the alginate chains of the composite plates and the joint. We also show that even the joining of already sintered Ox‐CMCs is feasible. However, densification cracks and lower shear strength are observed for such cases.
Fabrication and mechanical properties of large‐scale SiC impeller via vacuum gelcasting and pressureless sintering
Authors: Zhao Zhanchong , Li Xianhui , Zhang Yong , He Chenwei , Zhang Xiaoxin , Liu Huayan , Yan Qingzhi
Published: March 2020

Impeller is the key part of centrifugal pump to convey liquid. And combined with the engineering practice, we fabricated two types of open and semi‐open SiC ceramic impellers with diameter of 100 mm and 160 mm via gelcasting and pressureless sintering. B4C and C were used as the sintering additives and sprayed drying granulation method was adopted for the starting SiC powder processing. Given the size and shape complexity of impeller, the optimized pH value, dispersant content, and solid‐loading content for the fabrication of the SiC impellers were determined to be 10‐11, 0.8 wt%, and 40 vol%, respectively. For the open impeller, blade height, cover board thickness, drying shrinkage, and sintering shrinkage are 10.5 mm, 4 mm, 10.3%, and 21.3%, respectively. For the semi‐open ones, the corresponding parameters are 41 mm, 10 mm, 10.3%, and 21.3%, respectively. The average density of the two types of impellers is 3.15 g/cm3, and the mechanical properties of both impellers, including average hardness, flexural strength, compressive strength, and fracture toughness are 2478 HV, 436 MPa, 2093 MPa, and 3.17 MPa·m1/2, respectively. All variation coefficient values are smaller than 5%, which indicates a good uniformity in densities and mechanical properties of both the impellers.
Academic Activism Revisited
Authors: van der Vossen Bas
Published: March 2020

Academics are, or ought to be, engaged in an impartial search for the truth. Many academics also are, but ought not to be, engaged in political activism. I defend a moral duty for academics to refrain from such activism. Ben Jones’ article in this journal rejects such a duty. This article responds to his objections, thereby more carefully formulating when and why political activism is morally problematic, and what burdens it may imply.
Protective factors as biomarkers and targets for prevention and treatment of diabetic nephropathy: From current human evidence to future possibilities
Authors: Nowak Natalia
Published: March 2020

Although hyperglycemia, high blood pressure and aging increase the risk of developing kidney complications, some diabetes patients exposed to these risk factors do not develop kidney disease, suggesting the presence of endogenous protective factors. There is a growing need to understand these factors determining protection of the kidney in order to improve the design of preventive strategies and to enhance the processes responsible for renoprotection. The aim of this review was to present the existing molecular and epidemiological data on factors showing protective effects in diabetic kidney disease, and to summarize the evidence regarding their potential in the area of future clinical diagnostics, therapeutics and early preventive strategies. These include transcriptomic and proteomic studies regarding the anti‐inflammatory, anti‐fibrotic and regenerative factors that were associated with slower progression of renal function loss. Another focus is the new evidence regarding the evaluation of alterations in the regulatory epigenome and its involvement in the risk of diabetic kidney disease. Further effort is required to validate and extend these findings, and to define their potential for clinical implementation in the future.
Identification of a cell‐wall peptidase (NlpC/P60) from Nocardia seriolae which induces apoptosis in fathead minnow cells
Authors: Hou Suying , Chen Guoquan , Wang Wenji , Xia Liqun , Wang Zhiwen , Lu Yishan
Published: March 2020

Nocardia seriolae, a Gram‐positive bacterium, is the main pathogen of fish nocardiosis. Protein NlpC/P60 is a cell‐wall peptidase and a potential virulence factor of N. seriolae. Subcellular localization research revealed that both NlpC/P60‐GFP and NlpC/P60Δsig‐GFP fusion proteins were evenly distributed in the whole cell of fathead minnow (FHM) cells. Furthermore, typical apoptotic features, such as nuclear pyrosis and apoptotic bodies, were observed in the transfected FHM cells and grouper spleen cells by the overexpression of protein NlpC/P60. Then, quantitative assays of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) value, caspase‐3 activity and apoptosis‐related gene (Bax, BNIP3, TNF1 and TNF6) mRNA expression were conducted. The results showed that ΔΨm was decreased, caspase‐3 was significantly activated, and the mRNA expression of pro‐apoptotic genes (Bax and BNIP3) and tumour necrosis factors (TNF1 and TNF6) was up‐regulated in NlpC/P60‐overexpressed cells. Taken together, the results indicated that the protein NlpC/P60 of N. seriolae might involve in apoptosis regulation. This study may lay the foundation for further study on the function of N. seriolae NlpC/P60 and promote the understanding of the virulence factors and pathogenic mechanism of N. seriolae.
Intra‐rater reliability and smallest detectable change of compression sonoelastography in quantifying the material properties of the musculoskeletal system
Authors: Alsiri Najla , Al‐Obaidi Saud , Asbeutah Akram , Palmer Shea
Published: March 2020

Musculoskeletal conditions can change tissue elasticity. Knowledge of musculoskeletal elasticity could therefore aid clinical diagnosis and management. Sonoelastography is an ultrasound‐based system that examines the material properties of tissues, and it may be useful in musculoskeletal practice. Therefore, it is important to establish its clinimetric properties. This study aimed to explore the intra‐rater reliability and the smallest detectable changes of sonoelastography in examining musculoskeletal structures. A quantitative reliability design was used to examine 22 healthy participants using a compression sonoelastography system that produces color‐coded images. The deltoid, biceps brachii, brachioradialis, rectus femoris, gastrocnemius medius muscles, and Achilles tendon were examined twice at 1‐hr intervals to assess the intra‐rater reliability. The sonoelastography images were analyzed using the strain index, strain ratio, and color pixels. The intra‐rater reliability and the smallest detectable changes of each outcome variable were determined. The intra‐class correlation coefficient was used to quantify the repeatability of the measurements, and the smallest detectable changes were calculated to determine clinically important differences above the error of measurement. The intra‐rater reliability for the strain index, strain ratio, and color pixel analysis ranged from moderate to excellent (intra‐class correlation coefficients: .734–.950, .776–.921, and .754–.990, respectively), with color pixel analysis demonstrating the highest reliability. The smallest detectable changes were determined for all structures, including the Achilles tendon (0.11 for the higher boundary of the strain index, 1.80 for the strain ratio, and 2.90% for red pixels, representing soft tissues). Color pixel analysis may be more reliable for sonoelastography interpretation compared with the strain index and strain ratio. The calculated smallest detectable changes could be used to identify clinically important differences.
Symptom severity in burning mouth syndrome associates with psychological factors
Authors: Forssell Heli , Teerijoki‐Oksa Tuija , Puukka Pauli , Estlander Ann‐Mari
Published: March 2020

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients are psychologically distressed, but whether this associates with symptom severity is unclear. The aim was to investigate the association of psychological factors with pain intensity and interference in BMS. Fifty‐two women (mean age 63.1, SD 10.9) with BMS participated. Pain intensity and interference data were collected using 2‐week pain diaries. Psychological factors were evaluated using Depression Scale (DEPS), Pain Anxiety Symptom Scale (PASS) and Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire (PVAQ). The local ethical committee approved the study. Patients were divided into groups based on pain severity distribution tertiles: low intensity (NRS ≤ 3.7) or interference (NRS ≤ 2.9) (tertiles 1‐2, n = 35) and moderate to intense intensity (NRS > 3.7) or interference (>2.9) (tertile 3, n = 17). T test, Wilcoxon's test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used in the analyses. Patients in the highest intensity and interference tertiles reported more depression (P = .0247 and P = .0169) and pain anxiety symptoms (P = .0359 and P = .0293), and were more preoccupied with pain (P = .0004 and P = .0003) than patients in the low intensity and interference groups. The score of the pain vigilance questionnaire correlated significantly with pain intensity (r = .366, P = .009) and interference (r = .482, P = .009). Depression (r = .399, P = .003) and pain anxiety symptoms (r = .452, P = .001) correlated with pain interference. Symptom severity in BMS associates with symptoms of psychological distress emphasising the need to develop multidimensional diagnostics for the assessment of BMS pain.
‘Take 10 to talk about it’: Use of a scripted, post‐event debriefing tool in a neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Gougoulis Anastasi , Trawber Rory , Hird Kathryn , Sweetman Greg
Published: March 2020

Aim

This study assessed the impact of a scripted, post‐event debriefing tool in identifying logistical, procedural, personnel and performance obstacles and successes in a clinical setting. It was predicted that the debriefing tool would highlight the importance of routine debriefing following challenging clinical events.

Methods

The study was conducted in a 22‐bed neonatal intensive care unit at a tertiary hospital and involved all staff members in the perinatal service. The debriefing tool, a two‐page form providing a structured, scripted approach, was used at the earliest opportunity after acute clinical deteriorations, emergency caesarean sections and any other critical events as decided by the neonatal team. Sessions were facilitated by either a nursing or medical member of the neonatal team. Following a 2‐month trial, impact was measured via the comparison of before and after survey questions as well as review of a database of issues raised, subsequent actions and outcomes.

Results

Significant, positive changes were observed for survey questions specific to the frequency of debriefing, team communication, provision of learning opportunities and identification of logistical, equipment and procedural issues. In addition, the database highlighted the significant positive impact in day‐to‐day practice as a result of changes initiated by the debriefing tool. All participants requested the unit to continue using the tool.

Conclusion

Scripted, post‐event debriefing is achievable and valuable in the clinical setting. It encourages a supportive workplace culture and empowers team members to initiate practical change in their organisations.
Kruppel-like factor 2 disturb non-small cell lung cancer energy metabolism by inhibited glutamine consumption
Authors: Xiao Song , Jin-xiang Yan , Long Tian , Xiu-rong Lu , Hong Gao , Jie-cheng Yan , Fei Zhang
Published: March 2020

Objectives

Metabolic reprogramming is well accepted as a hallmark of cancer. This study aimed to explore the role of Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) in aerobic glycolysis and glutamine consumption of energy metabolism in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.

Methods

Two different NSCLC cells, A549 and NCI-H1299, were used to investigate the role of KLF2 in glycolysis and glutamine consumption by tracer technique and KLF2 transfection.

Key findings

The results showed that overexpression KLF could inhibit the energy metabolism and proliferation of NSCLC cells, but had no significant effect on glycolysis reaction and only affected the glutamine consumption of NSCLC cells. In NSCLC cells exposed to glutamine deprivation, the effect of overexpression of KLF2 on cell proliferation and energy metabolism disappeared. It was found that KLF2 could inhibit the expression of glutaminase (GLS) by metabolite tracing technique and so on. However, when GLS inhibitors were given to overexpressing KLF2 NSCLC cells, the intervention effect of KLF2 disappeared.

Conclusions

Kruppel-like factor 2 could decrease the level of glutamine, participate in the consumption of glutamine by cancer cells, and then inhibit the energy metabolism of cancer cells.
Non‐amyloid liver involvement in familial Mediterranean fever: A systematic literature review
Authors: Fraisse Thibault , Savey Léa , Hentgen Véronique , Rossi‐Semerano Linda , Koné‐Paut Isabelle , Grateau Gilles , Georgin‐Lavialle Sophie , Ducharme‐Bénard Stéphanie
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), the most frequent autoinflammatory disease, is caused by mutations in the MEFV gene. It is characterized by recurrent febrile attacks of polyserositis. Liver abnormalities may develop during its course, but they remain poorly defined.

Objective

To describe liver involvement in FMF patients.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted through PubMed/Medline and Embase from 1946 to January 2020. All articles describing children and adults with FMF and liver involvement were included. Patients with amyloidosis were excluded. The selected full‐text articles were independently reviewed by three investigators.

Results

Forty‐three articles were identified, of which 20 articles with a total of 99 patients were included: 74 adults, 23 children and two patients of unknown age. Ten patients had cryptogenic cirrhosis, 48 had nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), four had Budd‐Chiari syndrome (BCS), 12 had isolated hyperbilirubinaemia and 25 had elevated liver enzymes.

Conclusion

Despite a low prevalence of metabolic risk factors, FMF may be associated with NAFLD and cryptogenic cirrhosis as a consequence of chronic or recurrent inflammation. FMF patients should be regularly screened for liver injury. The latter may be prevented and treated by daily colchicine intake. The evidence was insufficient to establish an association with BCS, hyperbilirubinaemia or autoimmune hepatitis.
Beyond Learning About the Brain: A Situated Approach to Training Teachers in Mind, Brain, and Education
Authors: Carey Lisa B. , Schmidt Jonathan , Dommestrup Aila K. , Pritchard Alison E. , van Stone Maureen , Grasmick Nancy , Mahone E. Mark , Denckla Martha B. , Jacobson Lisa A.
Published: March 2020

The field of Mind, Brain, and Education (MBE) has debated the strategies and merit of training teachers in principles of neuroscience. A previous study argued for groups of teachers to be trained as “educational engineers” capable of translating the work of cognitive neuroscientists and education researchers into practical application. While several teacher education programs currently offer MBE courses, we offer a program description of a “situated learning” model of MBE that brings teachers to a unique pediatric hospital with a focus on neurodevelopmental disabilities. The aims of the program are to train educational engineers capable of improving special education services through applications of MBE. Teachers participating in this program learn about neurodevelopment, behavior, models of scientific knowledge acquisition, as well as applications of educational law, policy, leadership, and instruction. This unique program may offer a way to develop competent educational engineers capable of improving education for students with disabilities.
Expression of Ralstonia solanacearum type III secretion system is dependent on a novel type 4 pili (T4P) assembly protein (TapV) but is T4P independent
Authors: Zhang Yong , Han Liangliang , Zhang Lichun , Xu Changzheng , Shi Xiaojun , Hikichi Yasufumi , Ohnishi Kouhei
Published: March 2020

Type IV pili (T4P) are virulence factors in various pathogenic bacteria of animals and plants that play important roles in twitching motility, swimming motility, biofilm formation, and adhesion to host cells. Here, we genetically characterized functional roles of a putative T4P assembly protein TapV (Rsc1986 in reference strain GMI1000) and its homologue Rsp0189, which shares 58% amino acid identity with TapV, in Ralstonia solanacearum. Deletion of tapV, but not rsp0189, resulted in significantly impaired twitching motility, swimming motility, and adhesion to tomato roots, which are consistent as phenotypes of the pilA mutant (a known R. solanacearum T4P‐deficient mutant). However, unlike the pilA mutant, the tapV mutant produced more biofilm than the wild‐type strain. Our gene expression studies revealed that TapV, but not Rsp0189, is important for expression of a type III secretion system (T3SS, a pathogenicity determinant of R. solanacearum) both in vitro and in planta, but it is T4P independent. We further revealed that TapV affected the T3SS expression via the PhcA–TapV–PrhG–HrpB pathway, consistent with previous reports that PhcA positively regulates expression of pilA and prhG. Moreover, deletion of tapV, but not rsp0189, significantly impaired the ability to migrate into and colonize xylem vessels of host plants, but there was no alteration in intercellular proliferation of R. solanacearum in tobacco leaves, which is similar to the pilA mutant. The tapV mutant showed significantly impaired virulence in host plants. This is the first report on the impact of T4P components on the T3SS, providing novel insights into our understanding of various biological functions of T4P and the complex regulatory pathway of T3SS in R. solanacearum.