Systematic review of the relationship between quick returns in rotating shift work and health-related outcomes

A systematic literature search was carried out to investigate the relationship between quick returns (i.e. 11.0 hours or less between two consecutive shifts) and outcome measures of health, sleep, functional ability and work–life balance. A total of 22 studies published in 21 articles were included. Three types of quick returns were differentiated (from evening to morning/day, night to evening, morning/day to night shifts) where sleep duration and sleepiness appeared to be differently affected depending on which shifts the quick returns occurred between. There were some indications of detrimental effects of quick returns on proximate problems (e.g. sleep, sleepiness and fatigue), although the evidence of associations with more chronic outcome measures (physical and mental health and work–life balance) was inconclusive.

Practitioner Summary: Modern societies are dependent on people working shifts. This study systematically reviews literature on the consequences of quick returns (11.0 hours or less between two shifts). Quick returns have detrimental effects on acute health problems. However, the evidence regarding effects on chronic health is inconclusive.     

Influences of the insertion method in glass ionomer cement porosity

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of porosities inside the glass ionomer cement (GIC) after different techniques of material insertion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Specimens were prepared with high‐viscosity GIC Ketac Molar Easymix and divided into three groups according to the insertion method: spatula (PI), Centrix injector (CI), and low‐cost syringe (LCS). The specimens were fractured and observed with scanning electronic microscopy to quantitatively evaluate porosity inside the material using Image J Software. RESULTS: Statistical analysis, ANOVA application, and Tukey test to significance level of 5%, revealed that there was no statistical difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: Although the use of LCS has not decreased the porosity of the material, this insertion method is easy, accessible, and low cost, which makes it a viable alternative of use in the ART technique and in others bucal health programs. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION OF ELASTIC-PLASTIC STRUCTURES

Elastic-plastic analysis problems formulated as quadratic programming problems involve energy functional and equilibrium and yield constraints that depend on the design, material and loading. In this paper we consider the problem of determining the variation of structural response with respect to variations of these parameters. A general result for discrete structures is presented and implications for optimal design are discussed.     

Phenotypic and PCR-based characterization of the microflora in Norvegia cheese during ripening

Microbiological sampling of Norvegia cheese from three cheese factories was done during ripening. The evolution of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, lactococci, lactobacilli, enterococci, presumptive leuconostoc and pediococci was investigated after 30, 90, 180 and 270 days of ripening. Isolates (135) of non-starter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) from nine Norvegia cheeses after 90, 180 and 270 days of ripening were examined. The isolates were tested by physiological and biochemical assays, species-specific PCR and 16S rDNA sequencing. After 90 days of ripening Leuconostoc spp., most probably from the starter, and the NSLAB specie Lactobacillus paracasei dominated among the isolates, however, after longer ripening Lb. paracasei dominated. The development and evolution of the microflora in Norvegia varied according to dairy and ripening time.     

Dietary Fish Oil Alters DNA Methylation of Genes Involved in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Muscle and Liver of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

Adequate dietary supply of eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) is required to maintain health and growth of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). However, salmon can also convert α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) into eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) by sequential desaturation and elongation reactions, which can be modified by 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 intake. In mammals, dietary 20:5n-3 + 22:6n-3 intake can modify Fads2 expression (Δ6 desaturase) via altered DNA methylation of its promoter. Decreasing dietary fish oil (FO) has been shown to increase Δ5fad expression in salmon liver. However, it is not known whether this is associated with changes in the DNA methylation of genes involved in polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis. To address this, we investigated whether changing the proportions of dietary FO and vegetable oil altered the DNA methylation of Δ6fad_b, Δ5fad, Elovl2, and Elovl5_b promoters in liver and muscle from Atlantic salmon and whether any changes were associated with mRNA expression. Higher dietary FO content increased the proportions of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 and decreased Δ6fad_b mRNA expression in liver, but there was no effect on Δ5fad, Elovl2, and Elovl5_b expression. There were significant differences between liver and skeletal muscle in the methylation of individual CpG loci in all four genes studied. Methylation of individual Δ6fad_b CpG loci was negatively related to its expression and to proportions of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 in the liver. These findings suggest variations in dietary FO can induce gene-, CpG locus-, and tissue-related changes in DNA methylation in salmon.     

The effects of reduction of the deposited waste on short‐term landfill leachate composition of a landfill: a case study in Norway

Municipal solid waste landfill leachate was sampled over from a landfill receiving varying amounts of municipal solid waste. The investigation aimed to provide information on expected leachate changes in the short term, either after closure of an active landfill, or after a strong decline in the amount of waste deposited at smaller landfills. It was found that during a two year period following a sudden decline in the amount of waste deposited, the levels of various chemical and physical parameters all dropped sharply. The reasons for the decline in discharge levels are thought to be aerobic decomposition taking place in the municipal solid waste just after landfilling, and thus the decline in the impact of this process when there were less fresh waste masses available, and formation of preferential flow paths for the leachate as the municipal solid waste stabilized in the landfill.     

Eigenstructure and residuals in multivariable state-feedback design

In this paper it is shown that all residuals assignable by state feedback must belong to certain well-defined subspaces defined by the freely selectable closed-loop eigenvalues. These subspaces are straightforward to compute, and the computational requirements are modest. The applicability of this result is facilitated by the fact that fundamental control design objectives like I/O response and robustness can be expressed in terms of residuals. A design procedure is outlined and illustrated by an example. The method is applicable to square and non-square systems.     

Regulatory Power,Network Tools and Market Behaviour: Transforming Practices in Norwegian Urban Planning

Planning changes can be initiated formally through revisions of statutory rules; alternatively changes can arise informally through amendments to everyday planning activities. This article explains how local planning authorities in Norway introduce new planning practices relating to the management of land and planning procedures. The observed new practices have been introduced even though the formal hierarchical structure of the planning law has stayed unchanged. They are analysed as outcomes of the changing use of tools under the three models for co-ordinating behaviour: hierarchy understood as government, market and network. First, the existing planning system is analysed to explain the legal possibilities for changing planning practices informally. Two categories of practices are then discussed: the use of the detailed development plan as an implementation instrument, and the use of the regulatory power in framing interconnections and responsibilities towards stakeholders. The main conclusion is that regulatory tools have lost some strength in favour of tools under the network model, and that the observed changes in planning practices are mostly a result of mutual dependencies between these two models for co-ordinating behaviour.