Influential Article Review - Leveraging on Behavioral Science to Boost Productivity

This paper examines management. We present insights from a highly influential paper. Here are the highlights from this paper: Knowledge worker productivity is essential for competitive strength in the digital century. Small interventions based on insights from behavioural science makes it possible for knowledge workers to be more productive. In this point of view article, we outline and discuss a new management style which we label nudge management. For our overseas readers, we then present the insights from this paper in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German

Utilizing Pipeline Quality and Facility Sustainability to Optimize Crude Oil Supply Chains

In this paper, the distribution center (DC) model shown in Shapiros Modeling the Supply Chain is modified to show optimal locations to place small and large refineries based on transportation distances, refinery building costs, and the costs associated with refinery sustainability and pipeline quality. Though this model was originally used to determine the optimal locations to place distribution centers based on transportation distances and the size of the distribution centers, this model was modified to allow the use of different costs associated with the quality condition of the pipeline and the costs of sustaining an environmentally friendly facility. The case used to prove the model is the Indonesian oil industry due to how an increase in efficiency and excess capacity could provide another viable country to supply oil to the United States. The outputs of this paper are efficiency frontiers that show how the costs of pipeline quality and facility sustainability affect the overall costs of the Indonesian oil industry and a model that can be used to evaluate the oil industries in other countries

Gut dysbiosis in cystic fibrosis

In people with CF, intestinal exocrine malfunction, antibiotic usage [1] and swallowing of infected respiratory mucus [2] likely perturb the normal community of commensal bacteria in the gut. People with CF report various intestinal problems which may be alleviated by probiotic administration [3]. There is also evidence that probiotic bacteria can help people with CF fight respiratory infection [4,5]. However, CF-related gut dysbiosis has only recently been subjected to detailed investigation. Using DGGE and culture-based methods, Duytschaever and colleagues [6] showed that children with CF have a quantitatively and qualitatively different faecal microbiota from their healthy siblings

α-Synuclein Genetic Variants Predict Faster Motor Symptom Progression in Idiopathic Parkinson Disease

Currently, there are no reported genetic predictors of motor symptom progression in Parkinson’s disease (PD). In familial PD, disease severity is associated with higher α-synuclein (SNCA) expression levels, and in postmortem studies expression varies with SNCA genetic variants. Furthermore, SNCA is a well-known risk factor for PD occurrence. We recruited Parkinson’s patients from the communities of three central California counties to investigate the influence of SNCA genetic variants on motor symptom progression in idiopathic PD. We repeatedly assessed this cohort of patients over an average of 5.1 years for motor symptom changes employing the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Of 363 population-based incident PD cases diagnosed less than 3 years from baseline assessment, 242 cases were successfully re-contacted and 233 were re-examined at least once. Of subjects lost to follow-up, 69% were due to death. Adjusting for covariates, risk of faster decline of motor function as measured by annual increase in motor UPDRS exam score was increased 4-fold in carriers of the REP1 263bp promoter variant (OR 4.03, 95%CI:1.57–10.4). Our data also suggest a contribution to increased risk by the G-allele for rs356165 (OR 1.66; 95%CI:0.96–2.88), and we observed a strong trend across categories when both genetic variants were considered (p for trend  = 0.002). Our population-based study has demonstrated that SNCA variants are strong predictors of faster motor decline in idiopathic PD. SNCA may be a promising target for therapies and may help identify patients who will benefit most from early interventions. This is the first study to link SNCA to motor symptom decline in a longitudinal progression study

Down from the treetops: Red langur (Presbytis rubicunda) terrestrial behaviour

Using direct observations and camera traps at eight sites across Indonesian Borneo we show how red langurs (Presbytis rubicunda) are more terrestrial than previously believed, regularly coming to the ground. This unusual behavior has been found at six of the eight sites surveyed. We find that red langurs come to the ground more frequently in disturbed forests, specifically ones which have been impacted by logging, fire, and hunting, though more data are needed to confirm this as a direct correlation. We also found a trend towards decreased ground use with increased elevation of the habitat. When on the ground, red langurs are predominantly engaged in feeding (50% direct observations, 61% camera traps) and traveling (29% direct observations, 13% camera traps). Red langurs are found on the ground throughout the day, at similar times to activity periods of the apex predator, the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi). We suggest that ground use by red langurs could be an adaptation to disturbed forest to exploit additional food sources and to facilitate travel

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

What happens as student teachers who made very good use of ICT during pre‐service training enter their first year of teaching?

This paper looks at new teachers' use of information and communications technology (ICT) at the start of their first year of teaching. A previous study was made of 40 student teachers (May–July 2007) who were identified as very good users of ICT. This is a follow‐up study involving 30 of these 40 participants during their first months of teaching (November–February 2008). Drawing on interview and observation data the study describes the use these new teachers make of ICT and considers the factors which encourage and discourage that use. It finds that they continue to see ICT as supporting both their whole‐class teaching and pupils' independent working. The impact ICT has in the classroom provides the underlying rationale for its use by new teachers. Environmental factors, including access and expectations in school, further influence ICT use. Pre‐service training remains a strong influence, in particular past modelling of ICT use by mentors and tutors. The findings are discussed in the context of the wider literature

Addressing the Growing Burden of Trauma and Injury in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Low- and middle-income countries suffer disproportionately from reduced life expectancy and quality of life. Injuries are overlooked as contributors to global inequities in health, yet the long-term disabilities they frequently produce represent a significant burden. The Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health convened a panel of experts in trauma and injury from the United States and low- and middle-income nations to identify research gaps in this area and opportunities to create new knowledge. Panel members identified sustainable programs of research established through stable linkages between institutions in high-income nations and those in low- and middle-income nations as a priority. The resulting benefits of addressing the growing burden of trauma and injury to communities in resource-constrained settings around the world would be substantial

Shake it easy: a gently mixed continuous culture system for dinoflagellates

An important requirement for continuous cultures is a homogeneous distribution of resources and microorganisms, often achieved by rigorous mixing. Many dinoflagellate species are known to be vulnerable to turbulence. Here, we present a newly developed continuous culture system based on gentle mixing in which the two dinoflagellate species Scrippsiella trochoidea and Alexandrium tamarense, with different turbulence sensitivities, grew well under steady state conditions. We also show that the continuous culture system can be applied at low nutrient conditions and low population densities