bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental comfort based (ECB) methodology as a tool for preparing Kaizen application in a catering service company
Authors: Jaca Carmen , Ormazabal Marta , Viles Elisabeth , Santos Javier
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a methodology that is based on the concept of environmental comfort and can serve as a tool that can help companies and employees to implement Kaizen projects. This methodology focuses on the worker’s participation in analyzing and developing improvements related to their workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is focused on the development of a methodology that encourages worker participation in improvement activities, through the analysis of their working conditions. For this purpose, the proposed methodology was developed in accordance with the dimensions of workplace comfort proposed by Vischer. The employees start working on the analysis of problems and their solutions through the logical framework approach, as it is a tool that encourages worker participation and consensus. The developed methodology was applied in a company, with three different groups of people, which enabled the authors to test its utility.

Findings

The findings reveal that the proposed methodology is effective in initiating workers in the path of Kaizen. The employees who applied this methodology were able to propose improvement actions that addressed the problems and opportunities that they had previously detected. Moreover, the questionnaire that was used to validate the methodology and was administered to employees shows that the methodology is useful in preparing them for adopting continuous improvement (CI) programs.

Research limitations/implications

The methodology presented in this paper has been applied and evaluated by a small number of employees. These limitations suggest future research recommendations.

Practical implications

This participatory methodology could be used by different types of companies to initiate employees on the path of CI, even if they are not familiar with improvement programs or methodologies. In addition, its use could improve the capabilities of employees in areas such as participatory analysis, problem identification and proposal of objectives. These capabilities are necessary in any Kaizen project. As a result of the application of this methodology, the companies could obtain a list of areas of improvement related to their work and propose actions to work on.

Originality/value

The paper presents the use of environmental comfort in the workplace as the first step in accomplishing a Kaizen project, with a focus on the employee involvement and consensus.
The best of both worlds? Use of Kaizen and other continuous improvement methodologies within Portuguese ISO 9001 certified organizations
Authors: Fonseca Luis Miguel , Domingues José Pedro
Published: April 2018

Purpose

ISO 9001:2015 edition, by adopting modern management and quality approaches, can foster the application of continuous improvement (CI) methodologies. The purpose of this paper is to assess the level of utilization of Kaizen and other CI methodologies within Portuguese ISO 9001 certified organizations, namely, amid organizations that have already implemented ISO 9001:2015.

Design/methodology/approach

After the literature review, a quantitative research, supported on an online survey, was adopted. The survey yielded 309 valid responses (response rate 18 percent) encompassing 71 organizations already certified against ISO 9001:2015 and the remaining 238 against ISO 9001:2008. The results of the statistical analysis performed were reviewed with a focus group of five quality and organizational excellence managers.

Findings

The results show a mildly use of Kaizen, Lean and Six Sigma (SS) by Portuguese ISO 9001 certified organizations, which is increase when compared to previous studies. The sample of organizations that are already certified by ISO 9001:2015 have mean and median levels of customer improvement methodologies adoption (Lean, Kaizen, SS) higher than those that are still certified against ISO 9001:2008. However, the Kruskal-Wallis test showed that these differences are not statistically significant. Concerning the adoption of these methodologies by activity sector, the sample median values seem to suggest that Lean and SS are more commonly adopted in the industry than in the services, but according to the Kruskal-Wallis test these differences are not statistically significant. Checklists, plan-do-check-act cycle and process diagrams, followed by DMAIC, are the quality tools that are most frequently adopted. A high workload due to the transition process for ISO 9001:2015 and the lack of qualified people were suggested as possible explanations for these results by the Expert Focus Group.

Research limitations/implications

The study is restricted to ISO 9001 certified organizations in Portugal and due to the short time since ISO 9001:2015 implementation it should be considered as having an explanatory nature and subject to future confirmation.

Originality/value

This study on the application of CI methodologies between ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2008 certified organizations contributes to the Kaizen and CI body of knowledge and provides inputs to the organizations and professionals that aim to successfully apply it.
Contract teachers and student achievement in rural China: evidence from class fixed effects
Authors: Lei Wang , Li Mengjie , Zhang Siqi , Sun Yonglei , Sylvia Sean , Yang Enyan , Ma Guangrong , Zhang Linxiu , Mo Di , Rozelle Scott
Published: April 2018

For schooling to play an important role in the development of human capital, the system of education needs to provide quality education, which among other things requires high‐quality teachers. Facing fiscal constraints and growing enrolments, school systems in developing countries often supplement their teaching staff by hiring contract teachers. However, there is limited evidence on how the effectiveness of these teachers compares to that of civil service teachers. We use a dataset from rural primary schools in western China to estimate the causal effect of contract teachers on student achievement and find that gains in student scores on standardised examinations in mathematics and Chinese are less in classes taught by contract teachers than in classes taught by civil service teachers. The results demonstrate that China's education system needs to focus on producing high‐quality teachers to improve the quality of schooling in its rural education system. The findings imply that educators in developing countries should not only seek to hire increasingly more civil service teachers in rural schools, but they should also identify ways of improving the quality of contract teachers. If efforts to improve teaching can succeed, rural students can learn more, earn higher incomes and contribute more to the productivity of the overall economy.
Testing vertical price transmission for Vietnam's Robusta coffee
Authors: Mai Thang Chien , Shakur Shamim , Cassells Sue
Published: April 2018

Vietnam has undergone market reforms over the last three decades; and as a consequence, the coffee sector has become increasingly market‐driven. The success of the government's liberalisation policies in terms of market efficiency is investigated by examining the transmission of both positive and negative price changes for Robusta coffee between export and farmgate prices. We used a threshold vector error correction model and high‐frequency daily data. The primary result here is that of a symmetric price transmission between export and farm‐level prices. This result holds when tested with weekly price data, derived from the daily data. Farmgate prices respond faster to decreases than increases in export prices when the long‐run deviation exceeds a certain threshold. These price changes are transmitted within several days. This research also confirms the importance of transaction costs, and other price frictions mostly ignored in prior analyses for coffee.
Less Money, Fewer Donations: The Impact of New South Wales Political Finance Laws on Private Funding of Political Parties
Authors: Anderson Malcolm , Tham Joo‐Cheong , Nwokora Zim , Gauja Anika , Mills Stephen , Miragliotta Narelle
Published: April 2018

The role of money in politics has been a concern internationally with strong calls for stricter regulation of such funds. In Australia, this has resulted in a shift from laissez‐faire to increased regulation. Yet, there has been little research into the impact of this shift. To address this gap, this article examines the impact of four New South Wales political finance laws enacted from 2008 to 2012, which reflect the emergent regulatory approach. Focusing on the total number and value of political donations made to New South Wales political parties, it assesses the effects of the four Acts individually, as well as their overall impact, to test the assumption of legal effectiveness. It finds strong support for two key expectations resulting from the assumption: first, the raft of legislation will reduce the total number and value of political donations to the parties and second, that the 2010 legislation, which imposed caps on political donations and election spending, and substantially increased public funding, would be the most significant of the four Acts in terms of impact due to its scope and depth.
Committee Representation and Medicare Reimbursements—An Examination of the Resource‐Based Relative Value Scale
Authors: Gao Y. Nina
Published: April 2018

Background

The Resource‐Based Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) submits recommended reimbursement values for physician work (wRVUs) under Medicare Part B. The RUC includes rotating representatives from medical specialties.

Objective

To identify changes in physician reimbursements associated with RUC rotating seat representation.

Data Sources

Relative Value Scale Update Committee members 1994–2013; Medicare Part B Relative Value Scale 1994–2013; Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Master File 2007; Part B National Summary Data File 2000–2011.

Study Design

I match service and procedure codes to specialties using 2007 Medicare billing data. Subsequently, I model wRVUs as a function of RUC rotating committee representation and level of code specialization.

Principal Findings

An annual RUC rotating seat membership is associated with a statistically significant 3–5 percent increase in Medicare expenditures for codes billed to that specialty. For codes that are performed by a small number of physicians, the association between reimbursement and rotating subspecialty representation is positive, 0.177 (SE = 0.024). For codes that are performed by a large number of physicians, the association is negative, −0.183 (SE = 0.026).

Conclusions

Rotating representation on the RUC is correlated with overall reimbursement rates. The resulting differential changes may exacerbate existing reimbursement discrepancies between generalist and specialist practitioners.
Analysing Farm‐specific Payments for Norway using the Agrispace Model
Authors: Mittenzwei Klaus , Britz Wolfgang
Published: April 2018

Norway maintains a complex system of activity or type specific coupled payments which account for a large share of farm income. Most of the payment rates are negatively related to farm size and are higher in remote areas compared to central regions. We present and use a newly developed recursive‐dynamic multi‐commodity model (Agrispace) with CES production functions depicting regional farm clusters derived from the full farm population. Using this model, we simulate impacts of current and alternative subsidy policies on production, prices, input use, income and farm structural change. Mapping cluster results to each farm along with behavioural rules allows estimation of individual profits and farm exits. Our results indicate that, in the short run, the current policy regime seems to support the policy objective of maintaining a variety of farms in all parts of Norway. In the long run, farm structural change is less affected by a policy reform that leaves total support levels unchanged.
Biogenic selenium nanoparticles synthesized by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia SeITE02 loose antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy as a result of the progressive alteration of their organic coating layer
Authors: Cremonini Eleonora , Boaretti Marzia , Vandecandelaere Ilse , Zonaro Emanuele , Coenye Tom , Lleo Maria M. , Lampis Silvia , Vallini Giovanni
Published: April 2018

Increasing emergence of drug‐resistant microorganisms poses a great concern to clinicians; thus, new active products are urgently required to treat a number of infectious disease cases. Different metallic and metalloid nanoparticles have so far been reported as possessing antimicrobial properties and proposed as a possible alternative therapy against resistant pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) synthesized by the environmental bacterial isolate Stenotrophomonas maltophilia SeITE02 were shown to exert a clear antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against different pathogenic bacteria, either reference strains or clinical isolates. Antimicrobial and antibiofilm capacity seems to be strictly linked to the organic cap surrounding biogenic nanoparticles, although the actual role played by this coating layer in the biocidal action remains still undefined. Nevertheless, evidence has been gained that the progressive loss in protein and carbohydrate content of the organic cap determines a decrease in nanoparticle stability. This leads to an alteration of size and electrical properties of SeNPs along with a gradual attenuation of their antibacterial efficacy. Denaturation of the coating layer was proved even to have a negative effect on the antibiofilm activity of these nanoparticles. The pronounced antimicrobial efficacy of biogenic SeNPs compared to the denatured ones can – in first instance – be associated with their smaller dimensions. This study showed that the native organic coating layer of biogenic SeNPs functions in avoiding aggregation and maintaining electrostatic stability of the nanoparticles, thus allowing them to maintain efficient antimicrobial and antibiofilm capabilities.
HiMAP: Robust phylogenomics from highly multiplexed amplicon sequencing
Authors: Dupuis Julian R. , Bremer Forest T. , Kauwe Angela , San Jose Michael , Leblanc Luc , Rubinoff Daniel , Geib Scott M.
Published: April 2018

High‐throughput sequencing has fundamentally changed how molecular phylogenetic data sets are assembled, and phylogenomic data sets commonly contain 50‐ to 100‐fold more loci than those generated using traditional Sanger sequencing‐based approaches. Here, we demonstrate a new approach for building phylogenomic data sets using single‐tube, highly multiplexed amplicon sequencing, which we name HiMAP (highly multiplexed amplicon‐based phylogenomics) and present bioinformatic pipelines for locus selection based on genomic and transcriptomic data resources and postsequencing consensus calling and alignment. This method is inexpensive and amenable to sequencing a large number (hundreds) of taxa simultaneously and requires minimal hands‐on time at the bench (<1/2 day), and data analysis can be accomplished without the need for read mapping or assembly. We demonstrate this approach by sequencing 878 amplicons in single reactions for 82 species of tephritid fruit flies across seven genera (384 individuals), including some of the most economically important agricultural insect pests. The resulting filtered data set (>150,000‐bp concatenated alignment, ~20% missing character sites across all individuals and amplicons) contained >40,000 phylogenetically informative characters, and although some discordance was observed between analyses, it provided unparalleled resolution of many phylogenetic relationships in this group. Most notably, we found high support for the generic status of Zeugodacus and the sister relationship between Dacus and Zeugodacus. We discuss HiMAP, with regard to its molecular and bioinformatic strengths, and the insight the resulting data set provides into relationships of this diverse insect group.
Science Diplomacy within Sustainable Development: A SIDS Perspective
Authors: Elizabeth Thompson H.
Published: April 2018

Should science and its products be considered global public goods? An important question that is currently at the heart of multilateral negotiations on sustainable development. There is no doubt that scientific knowledge and its application have benefited billions across the globe. As the multilateral system seeks to implement the new development platform represented by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is increasing acceptance of a distinct role for world‐class scientific knowledge and technological understanding in diplomacy. In this evolution of the interface of science with politics, the work of the scientist is being increasingly brought into the halls of political power to inform policy formulation at national, regional and international levels with the aim of improving the human condition.

However, the architecture and outcomes of the interactions between science and diplomacy are not without challenge, particularly in how they connect with political pragmatism. In this article, I aim to draw lessons from two diplomatic contexts in which I have worked. The first, as a Minister and international representative of Barbados, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS); and the second, as Assistant Secretary General of the UN and Executive Coordinator of the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development.
Scientist Diplomats or Diplomat Scientists: Who Makes Science Diplomacy Effective?
Authors: Moomaw William R.
Published: April 2018

Successful science‐based policies build upon the pillar of sound science, while meeting the needs of diverse societies in an economically and politically feasible manner. How do scientists and diplomats interact most productively too achieve a successful outcome?
Distribution of the entomopathogenic fungusEntomophaga maimaiga(Entomophthorales:Entomophthoraceae) at the northern edge of its range in Europe
Authors: Zúbrik M. , Špilda I. , Pilarska D. , Hajek A.E. , Takov D. , Nikolov C. , Kunca A. , Pajtík J. , Lukášová K. , Holusa J.
Published: April 2018

The gypsy mothLymantria disparis a serious economic pest in European broadleaf forests. However, the entomopathogenic fungusEntomophaga maimaiga, which has a great potential to regulate gypsy moth numbers, has recently spread in the Central and Eastern European area of the moth's range. In the current study, 39 plots in oak forests in the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic were monitored forE. maimaigafrom 2014 to 2016. These plots were located along the northern edge of theE. maimaigarange where gypsy moth outbreaks have occurred in the past. The fungus was detected in 16 of the 39 plots. The results thus confirm thatE. maimaigais quite widespread along the northern edge of its range in Europe and can be considered to be established in that area.
SUMO1‐conjugation is altered during normal aging but not by increased amyloid burden
Authors: Stankova Trayana , Piepkorn Lars , Bayer Thomas A. , Jahn Olaf , Tirard Marilyn
Published: April 2018

A proper equilibrium of post‐translational protein modifications is essential for normal cell physiology, and alteration in these processes is key in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Recently, for instance, alteration in protein SUMOylation has been linked to amyloid pathology. In this work, we aimed to elucidate the role of protein SUMOylation during aging and increased amyloid burden in vivo using a His6‐HA‐SUMO1 knock‐in mouse in the 5XFAD model of Alzheimer's disease. Interestingly, we did not observe any alteration in the levels of SUMO1‐conjugation related to Alzheimer's disease. SUMO1 conjugates remained localized to neuronal nuclei upon increased amyloid burden and during aging and were not detected in amyloid plaques. Surprisingly however, we observed age‐related alterations in global levels of SUMO1 conjugation and at the level of individual substrates using quantitative proteomic analysis. The identified SUMO1 candidate substrates are dominantly nuclear proteins, mainly involved in RNA processing. Our findings open novel directions of research for studying a functional link between SUMOylation and its role in guarding nuclear functions during aging.
Morphological defects, sperm DNA integrity, and protamination of bovine spermatozoa
Authors: Boe‐Hansen G. B. , Fortes M. R. S , Satake N.
Published: April 2018

The association between sperm morphology characteristics and DNA conformation and integrity is still controversial. In bulls, major morphological sperm abnormalities have been associated with reduced fertility, and morphological assessment is used to provide an indication of potential fertility of the individual. Sperm DNA fragmentation and damage has a negative effect on embryo development and subsequently fertility, with bull spermatozoa generally displaying low levels of DNA damage and tight chromatin. However, sensitive methods for detecting chromatin damage may reveal associations with morphological defects. The objective was to determine whether morphological sperm abnormalities and variables expressing sperm DNA integrity and protamination are correlated in bulls, using the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and the sperm protamine deficiency assay (SPDA). Electroejaculated samples (n = 1009) from two‐year‐old tropically adapted bulls were split and fixed and submitted to microscopic sperm morphology assessment, and snap‐frozen for sperm nuclear integrity assessments by SPDA and SCSA. For SPDA, the variables were defective (MCB) and deprotaminated (HCB), and for SCSA, the variables were DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and high DNA stainability (HDS). HCB correlated with DFI; τKen2 = 0.317 and HDS; 0.098, and MCB correlated with DFI; 0.183 (p < 0.001). The percentage of morphological normal spermatozoa was correlated negatively to DFI; τKen2 = −0.168, MCB; −0.116 and HCB; −0.137 (p < 0.001). HCB and DFI were both positively correlated to head defects, proximal droplets, and spermatogenic immaturity, but not to distal droplets, vacuoles, or diadems. Sperm DNA integrity and protamination, using the SCSA and SPDA, respectively, in bulls show associations with morphological parameters, particularly with head shape abnormalities and indicators of spermatogenic immaturity, including proximal droplets. The vacuoles and diadem defects were not correlated with sperm nuclear integrity, and hence, these are likely physiological features that may not directly affect sperm chromatin configuration.
Unsettling “Inner City”: Liberal Protestantism and the Postwar Origins of a Keyword in Urban Studies
Authors: Ansfield Bench
Published: April 2018

The term inner city first achieved consistent usage through the writings of liberal Protestants in the USA after World War II. Its genesis was the product of an era when a largely suburban mainline Protestantism was negotiating its relationship to American cities. Liberal Protestants’ missionary brand of urban renewal refocused attention away from the blight and structural obsolescence thought to be responsible for urban decay, and instead brought into focus the cultural pathologies they mapped onto black neighbourhoods. The term inner city arose in this context, providing a rhetorical and ideological tool for articulating the role of the church in the nationwide project of urban renewal. I argue that even as it arose in contexts aiming to entice mainline Protestantism back into the cities it had fled, the term accrued its meaning by generating symbolic and geographic distance between white liberal churches and the black communities they sought to help.
Platelet biology in regenerative medicine of skeletal muscle
Authors: Scully D. , Naseem K. M. , Matsakas A.
Published: April 2018

Platelet‐based applications such as platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) and platelet releasate have gained unprecedented attention in regenerative medicine across a variety of tissues as of late. The rationale behind utilizing PRP originates in the delivery of key cytokines and growth factors from α‐granules to the targeted area, which in turn act as cell cycle regulators and promote the healing process across a variety of tissues. The aim of the present review is to assimilate current experimental evidence on the role of platelets as biomaterials in tissue regeneration, particularly in skeletal muscle, by integrating findings from human, animal and cell studies. This review is composed of 3 parts: firstly, we review key aspects of platelet biology that precede the preparation and use of platelet‐related applications for tissue regeneration. Secondly, we critically discuss relevant evidence on platelet‐mediated regeneration in skeletal muscle focusing on findings from (i) clinical trials, (ii) experimental animal studies and (iii) cell culture studies; and thirdly, we discuss the application of platelets in the regeneration of several other tissues including tendon, bone, liver, vessels and nerve. Finally, we review key technical variations in platelet preparation that may account for the large discrepancy in outcomes from different studies. This review provides an up‐to‐date reference tool for biomedical and clinical scientists involved in platelet‐mediated tissue regenerative applications.
Water deprivation decreases strength in fast twitch muscle in contrast to slow twitch muscle in rat
Authors: Farhat F. , Grosset J. F. , Canon F.
Published: April 2018

Aim

The effects of dehydration on muscle performance in human are still contradictory, notably regarding muscle force. The effect of water deprivation (WD) on mechanical properties of skeletal muscle, and more precisely its impact on slow and fast muscles, remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to determine for the first time whether WD leads to changes in contractile properties of skeletal muscle and whether these changes were muscle‐type‐specific.

Methods

Sixteen‐week‐old male rats were assigned to either a control group (C) with water or a 96‐hour WD group. At the end of the period, twitch and tetanus properties, as well as biochemical and structural analysis, were performed on soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles.

Results

Absolute twitch (Pt) and tetanic (P0) tension were, respectively, 17% and 14% lower in EDL of WD rats as compared with C rats, whereas unexpected increases of 43% and 25% were observed in SOL. Tensions normalized with respect to muscle mass were not affected by WD in EDL, whereas they were increased by more than 40% in SOL. A 96‐hour WD period leads to a decrease in fibre cross‐sectional area and absolute myofibrillar content only in EDL.

Conclusion

It is hypothesized that differences in the results between slow and fast muscles may come from (i) a muscle‐type‐specific effect of WD on protein balance, EDL showing a greater myofibrillar protein breakdown and (ii) a greater sensitivity to osmolality changes induced by WD in EDL than in SOL.
British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) consensus document for the management of male genital emergencies ‐ testicular trauma
Authors: Lucky Marc , Brown Gareth , Dorkin Trevor , Pearcy Richard , Shabbir Majid , Shukla Chitranjan J. , Rees Rowland W. , Summerton Duncan J. , Muneer Asif ,   BAUS Section of Andrology and Genitourethral Surgery (AGUS)
Published: April 2018

Male genital emergencies relating to the penis and scrotum are rare and require prompt investigation and surgical intervention. Clinicians are often unfamiliar with the management of these conditions and may not work in a specialist centre with on‐site expertise in genitourethral surgery. A series of consensus statements have been developed by an expert consensus comprising British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) Section of Andrology and Genitourethral Surgery together with experts from units throughout the UK. Testicular trauma requires prompt investigation and treatment in order to prevent the development of subfertility or hypogonadism. This series of consensus statements provide guidance for UK practice.
Do health consultations for people with learning disabilities meet expectations? A narrative literature review
Authors: Chapman Hazel M. , Lovell Andrew , Bramwell Ros
Published: April 2018

Accessible Summary

People with learning disabilities have unmet health needs.

Annual health checks were brought in to improve health care, but do they work?

The research shows checks lead to more tests for illness and illness being identified.

A lot of people still do not see their doctor, and not all doctors do health checks.

Future research needs to understand how people with disabilities feel about seeing their doctor or nurse, and how doctors and nurses feel towards them.

Aim

To explore the benefits and disadvantages of annual health checks for people with learning disabilities, including:

What are the rationales and outcome measures for health checks?

How well do health checks meet the needs of people with learning disabilities?

What areas does research in this topic need to focus on in the future?

Background

Health consultations are an interpersonal activity that influence health outcomes and attitudes towards self and health professionals for people with learning disabilities. Annual health checks have been introduced to improve health inequalities for people with learning disabilities.

Method

A narrative literature review of health care for people with learning disabilities was undertaken to evaluate health care for this population, and specifically the outcomes from annual health checks.

Findings

While annual health checks have made some improvements in terms of health outcomes, attendance for appointments is still low, provision is variable and experiences of health checks for people with learning disabilities are under‐researched.

Conclusions

Service user‐led research into their health experiences is needed. Research into the attitudes and experiences of health professionals in relation to people with learning disabilities is needed. Healthcare inequalities are only being partially addressed—improvement is needed in terms of service user experience and engagement.
Automated identification of structurally heterogeneous and patentable antiproliferative hits as potential tubulin inhibitors
Authors: Mangiatordi Giuseppe Felice , Trisciuzzi Daniela , Iacobazzi Rosamaria , Denora Nunzio , Pisani Leonardo , Catto Marco , Leonetti Francesco , Alberga Domenico , Nicolotti Orazio
Published: April 2018

By employing a recently developed hierarchical computational platform, we identified 37 novel and structurally diverse tubulin targeting compounds. In particular, hierarchical molecular filters, based on molecular shape similarity, structure‐based pharmacophore, and molecular docking, were applied on a large chemical collection of commercial compounds to identify unexplored and patentable microtubule‐destabilizing candidates. The herein proposed 37 novel hits, showing new molecular scaffolds (such as 1,3,3a,4‐tetraaza‐1,2,3,4,5,6,7,7a‐octahydroindene or dihydropyrrolidin‐2‐one fused to a chromen‐4‐one), are provided with antiproliferative activity in the μm range toward MCF‐7 (human breast cancer lines). Importantly, there is a likely causative relationship between cytotoxicity and the inhibition of tubulin polymerization at the colchicine binding site, assessed through fluorescence polymerization assays.
Identification of novel antilipogenic agents targeting fatty acid biosynthesis through structure‐based virtual screening
Authors: Soulère Laurent , Alix Pascaline M. , Croze Marine L. , Soulage Christophe O.
Published: April 2018

An Asinex Gold Platinium chemical library subset of 12 055 compounds was screened employing docking simulations in the active site of the human FAS KS domain. Among them, 13 compounds were further evaluated for their ability to inhibit fatty acid biosynthesis. Four compounds were found to be active in particular ASN05064661 and ASN05374526 with IC50 values of 6.6 and 10.5 μm, respectively. A binding mode study was further conducted with these two compounds structurally related to benzene sulfonamide and aromatic polyamide. This study showed that they fit tightly with the active site with several interactions, notably with the key residues Cys161, His293, and His331.
Turning a Digital Camera into an Absolute 2D Tele‐Colorimeter
Authors: Guarnera G. C. , Bianco S. , Schettini R.
Published: April 2018

We present a simple and effective technique for absolute colorimetric camera characterization, invariant to changes in exposure/aperture and scene irradiance, suitable in a wide range of applications including image‐based reflectance measurements, spectral pre‐filtering and spectral upsampling for rendering, to improve colour accuracy in high dynamic range imaging. Our method requires a limited number of acquisitions, an off‐the‐shelf target and a commonly available projector, used as a controllable light source, other than the reflected radiance to be known. The characterized camera can be effectively used as a 2D tele‐colorimeter, providing the user with an accurate estimate of the distribution of luminance and chromaticity in a scene, without requiring explicit knowledge of the incident lighting power spectra. We validate the approach by comparing our estimated absolute tristimulus values (XYZ data in ) with the measurements of a professional 2D tele‐colorimeter, for a set of scenes with complex geometry, spatially varying reflectance and light sources with very different spectral power distribution.
Phylogeny and historical biogeography of Gondwanan moss‐bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Coleorrhyncha: Peloridiidae)
Authors: Ye Zhen , Damgaard Jakob , Burckhardt Daniel , Gibbs George , Yuan Juanjuan , Yang Huanhuan , Bu Wenjun
Published: April 2018

The moss bugs of the Peloridiidae, a small group of cryptic and mostly flightless insects, is the only living family in Coleorrhyncha (Insecta: Hemiptera). Today 37 species in 17 genera are known from eastern Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Patagonia, and the peloridiids are thereby a group with a classical southern Gondwanan distribution. To explicitly test whether the present‐day distribution of the Peloridiidae actually results from the sequential breakup of southern Gondwana, we provide the first total‐evidence phylogenetic study based on morphological and molecular characters sampled from about 75% of recognized species representing 13 genera. The results largely confirm the established morphological phylogenetic context except that South American Peloridium hammoniorum constitutes the sister group to the remaining peloridiids. A timescale analysis indicates that the Peloridiidae began to diversify in the land mass that is today's Patagonia in the late Jurassic (153 Ma, 95% highest posterior density: 78–231 Ma), and that splitting into the three extant well‐supported biogeographical clades (i.e. Australia, Patagonia and New Zealand/New Caledonia) is consistent with the sequential breakup of southern Gondwana in the late Cretaceous, indicating that the current transoceanic disjunct distributions of the Peloridiidae are best explained by a Gondwanan vicariance hypothesis.
Coping behavior in multiple sclerosis—complementary and alternative medicine: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Rommer Paulus S , König Nicolaus , Sühnel Annett , Zettl Uwe K
Published: April 2018

Main Problem

Treatment options for multiple sclerosis (MS) have enlarged tremendously over the last years. Nonetheless, lots of patients look for alternative treatment options. The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widespread in MS, however, its scientific investigation is limited so far. The aim of the study is to analyse clinical and demographical differences of MS patients in dependency of their CAM utilization as coping strategy.

Methods

A total of 254 patients with a clinically definite MS were examined in a semistructured interview. Additional standardized questionnaires were used to measure different aspects of coping with illness. All patients underwent neurological examination.

Results

About 206 of all enrolled patients are CAM users (81.1%). They have a longer disease duration (8.3 years vs 7.3 years, P = 0.028) and show higher disability (median EDSS 4.0 vs 2.0, P < 0.001) than nonusers. CAM users differed significantly from nonusers in their coping behavior (P = 0.035). Users are brooding more heavily over the disease, looking for more information about MS, and are looking for a sense of their disease in religion more often than nonusers. CAM users are at a higher risk of depression. Almost two‐thirds of CAM users (57.6%) reported positive effects on the well‐being of their state of health.

Conclusion

Coping behavior differs significantly between CAM users and nonusers. CAM utilization is associated with higher disability and depression. More than 80% of our cohort has used alternative or complementary methods. CAM utilization may mirror unmet needs in the treatment of MS.
Motor development in infancy is related to cognitive function at 4 years of age
Authors: Heineman Kirsten R , Schendelaar Pamela , Van den Heuvel Edwin R , Hadders‐Algra Mijna
Published: April 2018

Aim

Evidence is accumulating that motor and cognitive development are interrelated. This study investigates associations between motor development in infancy and cognitive function at 4 years of age.

Method

This study is part of the Groningen prospective cohort study on the development of children born after assisted reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization. The study group consisted of 223 children (119 males, 104 females) born to subfertile couples (median gestational age 39.6wks, range 30–43wks). Motor behaviour was assessed with the Infant Motor Profile (IMP) at 4 months, 10 months, and 18 months. IQ was evaluated at 4 years with the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition. Latent class growth modelling was used to analyse relations between IMP and IQ scores.

Results

Infants with low total IMP scores had an IQ that was 8.9 points lower at 4 years than infants with typical IMP scores (95% confidence interval 3.6–14.1). Also, low scores in the domains of variation and performance were associated with a lower IQ at 4 years of age, by 6.1 points and 13.2 points respectively.

Interpretation

Motor development in relatively low‐risk infants is associated with cognition at 4 years of age. In particular, low motor variation and performance are associated with a lower IQ at 4 years of age.

What this paper adds

Motor development in infancy is directly related to cognitive function at 4 years of age.

This relationship is most pronounced for infant motor variation and performance.

The size of the differences in IQ is clinically relevant.
Procalcitonin measurement to screen medullary thyroid carcinoma: A prospective evaluation in a series of 2705 patients with thyroid nodules
Authors: Giovanella Luca , Imperiali Mauro , Piccardo Arnoldo , Taborelli Monica , Verburg Frederik Anton , Daurizio Federica , Trimboli Pierpaolo
Published: April 2018

Background

To prospectively evaluate the role of procalcitonin (PCT) in screening of patients with thyroid nodules for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).

Materials and methods

We measured PCT in 2705 patients with thyroid nodules referred to our centre between January 2011 and December 2017. Those with a positive PCT were operated after positive confirmatory tests such as fine‐needle aspiration, measurement of calcitonin (CT) in serum and fine‐needle aspiration washouts or CT stimulation testing. Patients with a negative PCT were operated based on the results of further diagnostics. The diagnostic performance of PCT was evaluated, and the best cut‐off level was selected by ROC curve analysis.

Results

Among 2705 patients, 9 with positive serum PCT (ie, above 0.1 μg/L) and 370 with negative PCT underwent thyroid surgery. MTC was histologically confirmed in all patients with positive PCT but not found in patients with negative PCT. Serum PCT levels were significantly higher in patients with MTC (median 0.64 μg/L, range 0.16‐12.9 μg/L) than in those without (median 0.075 μg/L, range 0.075‐0.16 μg/L; P < .0001). ROC curves were plotted to calculate the optimal PCT value separating patients with MTC from those without. The best cut‐off was 0.155 μg/L with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values as well as accuracy of 100%, 99.7%, 91.7%, 100% and 99.7%, respectively. Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 329 and zero, respectively.

Conclusions

Measurement of PCT is a sensitive and accurate method for detecting MTC in patients with thyroid nodules and can thus be a reliable alternative to CT measurement.
Automated detection of focal cortical dysplasia type II with surface‐based magnetic resonance imaging postprocessing and machine learning
Authors: Jin Bo , Krishnan Balu , Adler Sophie , Wagstyl Konrad , Hu Wenhan , Jones Stephen , Najm Imad , Alexopoulos Andreas , Zhang Kai , Zhang Jianguo , Ding Meiping , Wang Shuang ,   the Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition, and Genetics Study, Wang Zhong Irene
Published: April 2018

Objective

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is a major pathology in patients undergoing surgical resection to treat pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) postprocessing methods may provide essential help for detection of FCD. In this study, we utilized surface‐based MRI morphometry and machine learning for automated lesion detection in a mixed cohort of patients with FCD type II from 3 different epilepsy centers.

Methods

Sixty‐one patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy and histologically proven FCD type II were included in the study. The patients had been evaluated at 3 different epilepsy centers using 3 different MRI scanners. T1‐volumetric sequence was used for postprocessing. A normal database was constructed with 120 healthy controls. We also included 35 healthy test controls and 15 disease test controls with histologically confirmed hippocampal sclerosis to assess specificity. Features were calculated and incorporated into a nonlinear neural network classifier, which was trained to identify lesional cluster. We optimized the threshold of the output probability map from the classifier by performing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Success of detection was defined by overlap between the final cluster and the manual labeling. Performance was evaluated using k‐fold cross‐validation.

Results

The threshold of 0.9 showed optimal sensitivity of 73.7% and specificity of 90.0%. The area under the curve for the ROC analysis was 0.75, which suggests a discriminative classifier. Sensitivity and specificity were not significantly different for patients from different centers, suggesting robustness of performance. Correct detection rate was significantly lower in patients with initially normal MRI than patients with unequivocally positive MRI. Subgroup analysis showed the size of the training group and normal control database impacted classifier performance.

Significance

Automated surface‐based MRI morphometry equipped with machine learning showed robust performance across cohorts from different centers and scanners. The proposed method may be a valuable tool to improve FCD detection in presurgical evaluation for patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy.
Fish‐Net: Probabilistic models for fishway planning, design and monitoring to support environmentally sustainable hydropower
Authors: Wilkes Martin , Baumgartner Lee , Boys Craig , Silva Luiz G M , O'Connor Justin , Jones Matthew , Stuart Ivor , Habit Evelyn , Link Oscar , Webb J Angus
Published: April 2018

The construction of fishways for upstream and downstream connectivity is the preferred mitigation measure for hydropower dams and other riverine barriers. Yet empirical evidence for effective design criteria for many species is missing. We therefore assembled a group of international fishway designers and combined their knowledge with available empirical data using a formal expert elicitation protocol and Bayesian networks. The expert elicitation method we use minimizes biases typically associated with such approaches. Demonstrating our application with a case‐study on the temperate Southern Hemisphere, we use the resulting probabilistic models to predict the following, given alternative design parameters: (i) the effectiveness of technical fishways for upstream movement of migratory fish; (ii) habitat quality in nature‐like bypasses for resident fish; and (iii) rates of mortality during downstream passage of all fish through turbines and spillways. The Fish Passage Network (Fish‐Net) predicts that fishways for native species could be near 0% or near 100% efficient depending on their design, suggesting great scope for adequate mitigation. Sensitivity analyses revealed the most important parameters as follows: (i) design of attraction and entrance features of technical fishways for upstream migration; (ii) habitat preferences of resident fish in nature‐like bypasses; and (iii) susceptibility of fish to barotrauma and blade strike during turbine passage. Numerical modelling predicted that mortality rates of small‐bodied fish (50–100 mm TL) due to blade strike may be higher for Kaplan than Francis turbines. Our findings can be used to support environmentally sustainable decisions in the planning, design and monitoring stages of hydropower development.
The sceptical optimist: challenges and perspectives for the application of environmental DNA in marine fisheries
Authors: Hansen Brian Klitgaard , Bekkevold Dorte , Clausen Lotte Worsøe , Nielsen Einar Eg
Published: April 2018

Application of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has attracted the attention of researchers, advisors and managers of living marine resources and biodiversity. The apparent simplicity and cost‐effectiveness of eDNA analysis make it highly attractive as species distributions can be revealed from water samples. Further, species‐specific analyses indicate that eDNA concentrations correlate with biomass and abundance, suggesting the possibility for quantitative applications estimating abundance and biomass of specific organisms in marine ecosystems, such as for stock assessment. However, the path from detecting occurrence of an organism to quantitative estimates is long and indirect, not least as eDNA concentration depends on several physical, chemical and biological factors which influence its production, persistence and transport in marine ecosystems. Here, we provide an overview of basic principles in relation to eDNA analysis with potential for marine fisheries application. We describe fundamental processes governing eDNA generation, breakdown and transport and summarize current uncertainties about these processes. We describe five major challenges in relation to application in fisheries assessment, where there is immediate need for knowledge building in marine systems, and point to apparent weaknesses of eDNA compared to established marine fisheries monitoring methods. We provide an overview of emerging applications of interest to fisheries management and point to recent technological advances, which could improve analysis efficiency. We advise precaution against exaggerating the present scope for application of eDNA analysis in fisheries monitoring, but also argue that with informed insights into strengths and limitations, eDNA analysis can become an integrated tool in fisheries assessment and management.