bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Care outcomes and alcohol-related treatment utilisation profiles of patients with alcohol-use disorder
Authors: Rautiainen Elina , Ryynänen Olli-Pekka , Laatikainen Tiina
Published: September 2018

Background:

We examined the probabilities of longitudinal care outcomes of working-aged patients with alcohol-use disorder (AUD) and their alcohol-related treatment utilisation patterns across the healthcare services, by using linked electronic health records.

Methods:

A random sample ( n = 396) of patients with alcohol-related visits to healthcare services in 2011–2012 was collected retrospectively from the electronic health record data in the North Karelia region of Finland and followed prospectively in time until the end of 2016. Data on care outcomes and alcohol-related healthcare use were gathered from the electronic health records. Three outcome groups were identified: (1) dead, (2) present AUD, and (3) remission. Group differences in alcohol-related health service use were compared.

Results:

At the end of the follow-up period, an increased mortality rate of 22.9% was observed, and 18.4% had achieved stable remission, while for the majority (56%), the AUD remained. Most of those in remission had contact with either specialised AUD services or mental health services. Conversely, the majority of those who had died had no contact with specialised AUD services during the follow-up period.

Conclusions:

The electronic-health-record-based register analysis captured mainly individuals with advanced forms of AUD. An excess mortality rate and other negative health consequences were observed. Training providers to identify and treat earlier the less severe forms of AUD could have major benefit to patients and also reduce health system costs.
Vibration energy and repeated-root modes of disc rotor for high-frequency brake squeal
Authors: Gao Pu , Du Yongchang , Walker Paul D
Published: September 2018

In this paper, the generation mechanism of high-frequency brake squeal is revealed from the perspective of vibration energy. Based on a closed-loop coupling model, vibration energy transfer paths at the friction coupling interface between brake pads and disc are derived. Vibration energy equilibrium analysis is used to verify the reliability and accuracy of the derivation and the presented result demonstrates that vibration energy transferred from disc rotor to pads is the dominant transfer path. It is also demonstrated that the disc rotor is the key substructure affecting high-frequency brake squeal. As the disc rotor is axisymmetric, its repeated-root modes may lead to unreasonable calculated results by using the substructure modal composition method for analyzing the brake squeal. In this study, these repeated-root modes are processed by using a modified substructure modal composition method to obtain one unique integrated substructure modal composition coefficient of each disc repeated-root modes. Finally, the presented method is applied to analyze the brake squeal in the 13 kHz frequency band. The results easily identify the key vibration modes of the disc affecting high-frequency brake squeal, verifying the reliability of the presented method.
Speech and language therapy for primary progressive aphasia: Referral patterns and barriers to service provision across the UK
Authors: Volkmer Anna , Spector Aimee , Warren Jason D , Beeke Suzanne
Published: September 2018

Objective

To assess the extent of UK speech and language therapy engagement in assessment and management of primary progressive aphasia, determine the factors contributing to any shortfall and explore a gap in the research literature on current speech and language therapy practices with people with primary progressive aphasia.

Methods

A 37-item, pilot-tested survey was distributed electronically via clinical networks and through the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. Survey items included questions on intervention approaches, referral numbers and demographics, referral sources and access to services.

Results

One hundred and five speech and language therapists completed the survey. Over the previous 24 months, respondents reported seeing a total of 353 people with primary progressive aphasia (an average of 3.27 per speech and language therapist). Neurologists were the most commonly reported referrers to speech and language therapy (22.5%). Seventy-eight percent of respondents reported that people with primary progressive aphasia experienced barriers to accessing speech and language therapy. Key barriers were a lack of referrer awareness of a speech and language therapist’s role, and restrictive eligibility criteria for services.

Conclusions

This study highlighted inequities in access to speech and language therapy for people with primary progressive aphasia. The medical and speech and language therapy professions need to develop appropriate care pathways for people with primary progressive aphasia. Speech and language therapists have a duty to develop a relevant evidence base for speech and language interventions for people with primary progressive aphasia.
Exploring the social justice work of early childhood educators
Authors: Nolan Andrea , Lamb Stephen
Published: September 2018

With the importance of the early years of a child’s life to their learning and development, it is important that early childhood educators are skilled, reflective professionals who have the ability to actively support the learning of all children. Using a capability approach to human development as an evaluative framework, this article explores how early childhood educators across three early childhood services understand and take up the challenge of catering for diversity in children’s learning. Educators with a social justice outlook are acknowledged as believing in the capacity of all children to succeed despite the circumstances of their lives or their abilities. While there are many real strengths that the educators in this study are saying, observing, reflecting on and doing, none of the educators mentioned children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds as targets of their social justice work. The call is for educators to be more reflective of themselves and their practice to bring into focus the ‘unchallenged’ related to decision-making and professional judgements about programs and pedagogy, the ‘unseen’ such as children from underprivileged backgrounds, and the ‘under-valued’ being their own capabilities or those of their colleagues that remain untapped in their social justice work in relation to young children’s learning and development. This research aims to raise awareness of the need for educators to consider the context within which they work and what this may mean for the experiences and situations of the children with whom they work.
Timing of onset and self-management of multiple chronic conditions: A qualitative examination taking a lifespan perspective
Authors: Heid Allison R , Gerber Andrew R , Kim David S , Gillen Stefan , Schug Seran , Pruchno Rachel
Published: September 2018

Objectives

Over two-thirds of older individuals live with multiple chronic conditions, yet chronic diseases are often studied in silos. Taking a lifespan approach to understanding the development of multiple chronic conditions in the older population helps to further elucidate opportunities for targeted interventions that address the complexities of multiple chronic conditions.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 38 older adults (age 64+) diagnosed with at least two chronic health conditions. Content analysis was used to build understanding of how older adults discuss the timing of diagnoses and subsequent self-management of multiple chronic conditions.

Results

Findings highlight the complex process by which illnesses unfold in the context of individuals’ lives and the subsequent engagement and/or disengagement in self-management behaviors. Two primary themes were evident regarding timing of illnesses: illnesses were experienced within the context of social life events and/or health events, and illnesses were not predominantly seen as connected to one another by patients. Self-management behaviors were described in response to onset of each illness.

Discussion

Findings provide insight into how older adults understand their experience of multiple chronic conditions and change in self-management behaviors over time. In order for practitioners to ignite behavioral changes, a person’s history and life experiences must be considered.
The Hoffman report, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the defense of the nation: A personal view
Authors: Seligman Martin
Published: September 2018

I was asked by the Central Intelligence Agency in the spring of 2002 about how the research on learned helplessness could help captured Americans resist and evade torture and interrogation. There was no discussion of how learned helplessness could be used with detainees nor any mention of the interrogation of detainees. James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen later created a program of “enhanced interrogation” of detainees and it was incorrectly reported that they based it on the theory of learned helplessness. I played no role at all in these developments, and I am grieved that scientific research created to relieve helplessness and depression might have been used for brutal interrogations. The unfounded attacks on me and others, however, may have been intended to discourage young psychologists from working with the Department of Defense, and I urge American Psychological Association not to waver in its long-standing commitment to serve the nation.
From urban segregation to spatial structure detection
Authors: Randon-Furling Julien , Olteanu Madalina , Lucquiaud Antoine
Published: September 2018

We develop a ‘multifocal’ approach to reveal spatial dissimilarities in cities, from the most local scale to the metropolitan one. Think, for instance, of a statistical variable that may be measured at different scales, e.g. ethnic group proportions, social housing rate, income distribution, or public transportation network density. Then, to any point in the city there corresponds a sequence of values for the variable, as one zooms out around the starting point, all the way up to the whole city – as if with a varifocal camera lens. The sequences thus produced encode spatial dissimilarities in a precise manner: how much they differ from perfectly random sequences is indeed a signature of the underlying spatial structure. We introduce here a mathematical framework that allows to analyse this signature, and we provide a number of illustrative examples.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation intervention in Alzheimer’s disease: a research proposal for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Marron Elena M. , Viejo-Sobera Raquel , Quintana María , Redolar-Ripoll Diego , Rodríguez Daniel , Garolera Maite
Published: September 2018

Objective

Alzheimer’s disease is a major health problem in our society. To date, pharmacological treatments have obtained poor results and there is a growing interest in finding non-pharmacological interventions for this disease. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive technique that is able to induce changes in brain activity and long-term modifications in impaired neural networks, becoming a promising clinical intervention. Our goal is to study the benefit of individualized TMS targeting based on the patient’s functional connectivity (personalized targeting), and short duration TMS protocol, instead of current non-individualized and longer session approaches. A double blind randomized controlled trial will be conducted to assess the effects of TMS treatment immediately, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after the end of the intervention. Fifty-four patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease will be randomly allocated into experimental (active TMS), sham control, or conventional intervention control group. We will quantify changes in cognitive, functional, and emotional deficits in Alzheimer patients, as well as the functional connectivity changes induced by the TMS treatment.

Results

We expect to demonstrate that personalized TMS intervention has a measurable positive impact in cognition, emotion, daily living activities and brain connectivity, thus representing a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

Trial registration The trial has been prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03121066. Date of registration: 04/19/2017
Developing an Analytical Framework to Characterize Student Reasoning about Complex Processes
Authors: Scott Emily E. , Anderson Charles W. , Mashood K. K. , Matz Rebecca L. , Underwood Sonia M. , Sawtelle Vashti
Published: September 2018

Real-world processes are complex and require ideas from multiple disciplines to be explained. However, many science courses offer limited opportunities for students to synthesize scientific ideas into coherent explanations. In this study, we investigated how students constructed causal explanations of complex phenomena to better understand the ways they approach this practice. We interviewed 12 undergraduate science majors and asked them to explain real-world phenomena. From these interviews, we developed a characterization framework that described the reasoning patterns we found. In this framework, we identified three explanatory frames that differentiated the kinds of explanations students provided: a colloquial frame, wherein participants activated conceptual resources based on personal experience using everyday language; an emerging mechanistic frame, wherein participants used scientific concepts in semicoherent ways; and a causal mechanistic frame, wherein participants cohesively drew upon scientific conceptual resources to construct mechanistic explanations. Overall, the causal mechanistic frame was the least prevalent frame invoked by students. Instead, many drew on an emerging mechanistic frame and struggled to identify and apply scientific concepts to real-world scenarios. We advocate for incorporating opportunities to reason about real-world phenomena into undergraduate science curricula to provide students with experience integrating scientific concepts to explain real-world phenomena.
Identification of shallow geohazard channels based on discontinuity seismic attributes in the South Caspian Sea
Authors: Karbalaali Haleh , de Groot Paul , Javaherian Abdolrahim , Qayyum Farrukh , Dahlke Stephan , Torabi Siyavash
Published: September 2018

Identification of geomorphological features in seismic data is a key element of seismic interpretation. Channels in the shallow subsurface are potential geohazards. At deeper levels, they can be the actual targets for (horizontal) drilling. Either way, it is important to optimally delineate these features prior to well location positioning and drilling. We have studied a poststack 3D seismic data from the South Caspian Sea featuring shallow channels that are considered potential geohazards for drilling operations. In the first step, we attenuate the acquisition footprints along the inline direction using a geostatistics approach based on factorial kriging. To better visualize channels in the presence of stratigraphic dips, we create a dense set of horizons using an inversion-based flattening algorithm. In the next step, we compare various discontinuity attributes such as semblance, similarity, curvature, and the relatively new attribute based on the multiscale and multidirectional shearlet transformation to determine which one best images our features of interest. Curvature attributes clearly image channel levies (positive curvature) and channel centers (negative curvature). Lateral changes in the curvature magnitude infer sedimentation from the north. Similarity, semblance, and shearlet transform attributes also successfully delineate channel edges, but these attributes do not contain additional geologic information. In the final step, we qualitatively analyze channel thickness variations by the red-green-blue blending of three spectral components based on short window Fourier transforms.
Robust refraction statics solution and near-surface velocity model building using feedback from reflection data
Authors: Law Bernard K. , Trad Daniel
Published: September 2018

An accurate near-surface velocity model is critical for weathering statics correction and initial model building for depth migration and full-waveform inversion. However, near-surface models from refraction inversion often suffer from errors in refraction data, insufficient sampling, and over-simplified assumptions used in refraction algorithms. Errors in refraction data can be caused by picking errors resulting from surface noise, attenuation, and dispersion of the first-arrival energy with offset. These errors are partially compensated later in the data flow by reflection residual statics. Therefore, surface-consistent residual statics contain information that can be used to improve the near-surface velocity model. We have developed a new dataflow to automatically include median and long-wavelength components of surface-consistent reflection residual statics. This technique can work with any model-based refraction solution, including grid-based tomography methods and layer-based methods. We modify the cost function of the refraction inversion by adding model and data weights computed from the smoothed surface-consistent residual statics. By using an iterative inversion, these weights allow us to update the near-surface velocity model and to reject first-arrival picks that do not fit the updated model. In this nonlinear optimization workflow, the refraction model is derived from maximizing the coherence of the reflection energy and minimizing the misfit between model arrival times and the recorded first-arrival times. This approach can alleviate inherent limitations in shallow refraction data by using coherent reflection data.
Imaging and monitoring of the shallow subsurface using spatially windowed surface-wave analysis with a single permanent seismic source
Authors: Ikeda Tatsunori , Tsuji Takeshi , Nakatsukasa Masashi , Ban Hideaki , Kato Ayato , Worth Kyle , White Don , Roberts Brian
Published: September 2018

Development of shallow subsurface monitoring systems is important for monitoring the ground stability of shallow formation, and also for conventional deep seismic monitoring because with current techniques, temporal changes in shallow seismic velocities can influence monitoring results for the deep subsurface. We have developed an effective shallow seismic imaging and monitoring system with high spatiotemporal resolution and accuracy using a continuous and controlled source system, the accurately controlled routinely operated signal system (ACROSS). The method applies surface-wave analysis to characterize and monitor the shallow subsurface from the spatiotemporal variation of phase velocities. Because the number of available ACROSS units is usually limited, estimating a shallow subsurface with high spatial resolution is a challenging issue in ACROSS-based monitoring. To overcome this problem, we introduced a 2D spatial window into multichannel analysis of surface waves. We analyzed continuous ACROSS data acquired during seven different data periods from 2014 to 2016 at the Aquistore [Formula: see text] storage site in Canada. As a result, we clearly estimated spatial variations of phase velocities using only a single ACROSS unit. The numerical experiments of our method suggested that the spatial variations could be associated with shallow geologic boundaries in the study area. We identified clear seasonal variations of phase velocities in winter, possibly related to ground freezing in shallow sediments, and we showed the high temporal stability of our monitoring approach in warmer seasons. These results indicated that our approach would have the potential to identify spatiotemporal change in shallow subsurface associated with natural phenomena or fluid leakage.
Oocyte-specific maternal Slbp2 is required for replication-dependent histone storage and early nuclear cleavage in zebrafish oogenesis and embryogenesis
Authors: He Wen-Xia , Wu Min , Liu Zhen , Li Zhi , Wang Yang , Zhou Jian , Yu Peng , Zhang Xiao-Juan , Zhou Li , Gui Jian-Fang
Published: September 2018

Stem–loop binding protein (SLBP) is required for replication-dependent histone mRNA metabolism in mammals. Zebrafish possesses twoslbps, andslbp1is necessary for retinal neurogenesis. However, the detailed expression and function ofslbp2in zebrafish are still unknown. In this study, we first identified zebrafishslbp2as an oocyte-specific maternal factor and then generated a maternal-zygoticslbp2F3 homozygous mutant (MZslbp2Δ4−/−) using CRISPR/Cas9. The depletion of maternal Slbp2 disrupted early nuclear cleavage, which resulted in developmental arrest at the MBT stage. The developmental defects could be rescued inslbp2transgenic MZslbp2Δ4−/−embryos. However, homozygous mutant MZslbp1Δ1−/−developed normally, indicatingslbp1is dispensable for zebrafish early embryogenesis. Through comparative proteome and transcriptome profiling between WT and MZslbp2Δ4−/−embryos, we identified many differentially expressed proteins and genes. In comparison with those in WT embryos, four replication-dependent histones, including H2a, H2b, H3, and H4, all reduced their expression, while histone varianth2afxsignificantly increased in MZslbp2Δ4−/−embryos at the 256-cell stage and high stage. Zebrafish Slbp2 can bind histone mRNA stem–loop in vitro, and the defects of MZslbp2Δ4−/−embryos can be partially rescued by overexpression of H2b. The current data indicate that maternal Slbp2 plays a pivotal role in the storage of replication-dependent histone mRNAs and proteins during zebrafish oogenesis.
Insights into population structure of East African sweetpotato cultivars from hybrid assembly of chloroplast genomes
Authors: Zhou Chenxi , Duarte Tania , Silvestre Rocio , Rossel Genoveva , Mwanga Robert O. M. , Khan Awais , George Andrew W. , Fei Zhangjun , Yencho G. Craig , Ellis David , Coin Lachlan J. M.
Published: September 2018

Background:The chloroplast (cp) genome is an important resource for studying plant diversity and phylogeny. Assembly of the cp genomes from next-generation sequencing data is complicated by the presence of two large inverted repeats contained in the cp DNA.

Methods:We constructed a complete circular cp genome assembly for the hexaploid sweetpotato using extremely low coverage (<1×) Oxford Nanopore whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data coupled with Illumina sequencing data for polishing.

Results:The sweetpotato cp genome of 161,274 bp contains 152 genes, of which there are 96 protein coding genes, 8 rRNA genes and 48 tRNA genes. Using the cp genome assembly as a reference, we constructed complete cp genome assemblies for a further 17 sweetpotato cultivars from East Africa and anI. trilobaline using Illumina WGS data. Analysis of the sweetpotato cp genomes demonstrated the presence of two distinct subpopulations in East Africa. Phylogenetic analysis of the cp genomes of the species from the ConvolvulaceaeIpomoeasectionBatatasrevealed that the most closely related diploid wild species of the hexaploid sweetpotato isI. trifida.

Conclusions:Nanopore long reads are helpful in construction of cp genome assemblies, especially in solving the two long inverted repeats. We are generally able to extract cp sequences from WGS data of sufficiently high coverage for assembly of cp genomes. The cp genomes can be used to investigate the population structure and the phylogenetic relationship for the sweetpotato.
Activated Carbon from Bio-wastes of Durian Fruits as Active Material for Electrodes of Electric Double-layer Capacitors
Authors: Tey Jin Pin , Arof Abdul Kariem , Yarmo Mohd Ambar , Careem Mohamed Abdul
Published: September 2018

In this study, bio-wastes from durian fruits such as seeds and shells have been used as precursor materials to prepare activated carbon (AC). While the applicability of a one-step method of impregnation-activation has been investigated for the activation of durian shells, a two-step method of carbonization-impregnation-activation has been tried for the durian seeds. Durian shells based AC (DSh-AC) was found to have a BET surface area () of 2004 m2 g-1 and the durian seeds based AC (DS-AC) had of 1176 m2 g-1. A new approach to electrical double-layer capacitor (EDLC) fabrication has been attempted to avoid the use of polymer binders and organic solvents in the electrodes by coating the electrode material directly on the separator. Instead of coating onto metal current collector, the AC was coated on a glass microfiber filter which was used as the separator to form the electrode. As an electrode material in the EDLC, DSh-AC performed well with a specific capacitance () between 72 and 82 F g-1 whereas the DS-AC showed lower values of between 64 and 70 F g-1. The reasonable good results indicate that the simple approach of device fabrication can also produce EDLCs with satisfactory performance parameters.
Development of Gold Electrodes for Microbial Fuel Cells
Authors: Verea L. , Jaramillo-Torres M. , Mejia-Lopez M. P. , Campos J. , Sebastian P. J.
Published: September 2018

The microbial fuel cell (MFC) has been an important subject of study in the last decades because of its technological significance that one can produce hydrogen or electricity by wastewater treatment (bio-remediation). One of the main issues for the application of these devices on large scale is the processes and materials for the electrode fabrication. The cathode for MFC requires a catalyst to perform the reduction reaction and this work presents a simple technique to obtain thin layers of gold (TLG) supported on glass. This technique was employed to obtain TLG with different thicknesses from 848 nm to the thinnest of 137 nm. Since the gold of the TLGs presented adherence issues, a successful thermal treatment with different temperatures from 150-300 ºC was developed to avoid the gold detachment. The TLGs were tested as cathodes in a MFC and a maximum Voc of 431 mV and an Isc of 10 × 10−2 mA were obtained. The process to obtain TLGs presented here has probed to be a good option for this application since the thickness obtained and the accessible material (glass) employed as support offers a solution to the costs and the scaling issues.
Study on Preparation and Properties of Novel Ti/Cu Laminated Composite Electrode Materials
Authors: Zhaohui Han , Peixian Zhu , Shenggang Zhou , Yuzhong Guo , Yi Yang
Published: September 2018

This paper starts with the structure design of the electrode base material, Ti/Cu electrode material instead of single metal Ti as the base material which was prepared by hot diffusion welding, the change of composite material structure is influences on electrochemical properties of Ti/Cu that was analyzed by SEM, electrochemical workstation and so on. The results show that the design changes of matrix structure of traditional Ti electrode is good for enhance the electrochemical performance of electrode, due to the design of layered composite structure was used, the inner Cu of composite material is current collector electrode and conductive channel carrier , it reduces the resistivity of the electrode material (its resistivity is only 1/15 of pure titanium electrode material) and improves the electrical conductivity of the electrode, in order to realize the uniformity of the current in the electrode, the electrochemical performance of the electrode was improved for the novel Ti/Cu laminated composite electrode materials.
Electrodeposition of Iron from Kaolin Clay and the Effect of Mass Transport
Authors: Carlos Flores-Segura Juan , Savadogo Oumarou , Oishi Kentaro , Reyes-Cruz Víctor Esteban , Veloz-Rodríguez María Aurora
Published: September 2018

The separation of iron from kaolin clay solutions using electro deposition was studied. Electrochemical studies of the iron electro-deposition were performed using the techniques of cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry and chronoamperometry on a silver rotating disk electrode (RDE) as a working electrode. The effect of the kaolin solution pretreatment with ultrasonic method on the electrochemical reduction processes was studied. The influence of the disk speed of the electro-deposition performances was also studied. The morphology of the surface of the electro-deposit was observed by SEM. It was found that the ultrasonic pretreatment has an important effect on the reduction processes and on the morphology of the electrodeposited sample. The chemical composition of the electrode-posit was characterized by atomic absorption and ICP-ToFMS. It was shown that Fe2O3 content in the clay was 0.6% (weight). The voltammetric studies revealed that, during the electrochemical reduction processes of the kaolin solution, the iron reduction peaks were observed in the potential range from - 0.52V to -2.0V (E vs. SCE). Subsequently, the chronopotentiometry study showed that when a current of - 0.09A is applied to the electrochemical cell, the reduction of iron species occurred. It was also found that the variation of the amount of the electrodeposited iron is, of course, significantly dependent of the speed of the working electrode. For an electrode speed rate ranged from 1500 to 6500 rpm (revolutions per minute), an optimum amount of the electro deposited iron was obtained for an electrode speed of about 4000 rpm.
Application of Electrochemical Immuno-sensor Based on Ketamine Hydrochloride for the Detection of Sports Illicit Drugs
Authors: Lei Yanyun
Published: September 2018

With the development of modern technology, the developed electrochemical immuno-sensor becomes a new kind of micro measurement technology. The electrochemical immuno-sensor based on ketamine hydrochloride was prepared in this study. Sufficient anti-bodies are combined with the electrode through adsorption of 3-mercaptopropionic acid and gold electrode. The results showed that the electrode had a specific response to antigens. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and atomic force microscope (AFM) were used for the electrode characterization. Results indicated that, the prepared electrode had good stability and re-producibility. The prepared electrochemical immuno-sensor based on ketamine hydrochloride in this study was applied to the detection of morphine content in sports illicit drugs, and we found that, such kind of sensor was appropriate for detection of illicit drugs. Moreover, it had high sensitivity and was hopeful to be made into a miniature instrument. Thus, the electrochemical immuno-sensor based on ketamine hydrochloride plays an important role in the detection of illicit drugs on the competition site of sports events.
Lead Corrosion and Formation of Lead Oxides from a Lead-air Cell in Methanesulfonic Acid
Authors: Basirun Wan Jeffrey , Saeed Idris Mohamed , Ghadimi Hanieh , Ladan Magaji , Mahmoudian Mohammad Reza , Ebadi Mehdi , Abdulrauf Lukman Bola , Endut Zulkarnain
Published: September 2018

The corrosion of lead in methanesulfonic acid solution in the presence of a MnO2 air cathode in a primary lead-air cell is in-vestigated. The highest power density of the lead-air cell is 2.8 mW cm-2. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction results demonstrate the formation of lead (II) oxide and lead (IV) dioxide on the air cathode after continuous discharge. Field emission scanning electron microscopy image shows that the surface coverage of lead (II) oxide and lead (IV) dioxide on the air cathode is only partial and will allow oxygen reduction.
Effect of Milling on the Electrochemical Properties of Nanostructured Li(Fe0.8Mn0.2)PO4 as Cathodes for Li-ion Batteries
Authors: Torabi Morteza , Neyshabouri Alireza Tavakkoli , Mohammad Bahram Soltan , Razavi S. H. , Rad Mansoor Kianpour
Published: September 2018

Phospho-olivine Li(Fe0.8Mn0.2)PO4 was synthesized using high-temperature solid state procedure. Ball milling was used to decrease the particle size of the active material. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed formation of the phospho-olivines. The crystallite size of the ball-milled particles was calculated about 64.9 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) also showed polygonal particles of the ball-milled Li(Fe0.8Mn0.2)PO4 and homogeneous distribution of the iron and manganese. Electrochemical evaluation of the ball-milled Li(Fe0.8Mn0.2)PO4 demonstrated faster kinetic reaction with respect to the as-synthesized Li(Fe0.8Mn0.2)PO4. The ball milling process led to highest capacity between the samples (150 mAh g-1 at 0.1 mA cm-2); however, annealing the ball-milled samples showed the best cyclic performance (3% fading after 50 cycles). Ball milling process caused nanostructured Li(Fe0.8Mn0.2)PO4 with lower diffusion length, higher electrical conductivity and higher capacity.
U.S. Income Comparisons with Regional Price Parity Adjustments
Authors: Bishop John A. , Lee Jonathan M. , Zeager Lester A.
Published: September 2018

Using official regional price parities (RPPs) recently released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, we investigate how RPP adjustments affect the entire distribution of U.S. family incomes, poverty, inequality, tax progressivity, and metro-size agglomeration premiums. We find that higher-income families tend to live in higher-price areas, so regional mean incomes converge as real incomes fall in richer, higher-cost regions and rise in poorer, lower-cost regions. Further, the differences in poverty rates for the metro and non-metro areas vanish and we find re-rankings in poverty rates among the 9 Census Divisions. RPP adjustments also influence income inequality and effective U.S. tax progressivity. They increase effective federal tax progressivity by more than 25 %, equivalent to a $2,500 cash transfer. When we control for local prices and the characteristics of the family head, income (agglomeration) premiums for major metropolitan areas largely, but not completely, disappear.
The Bible and The Transgender Christian: Mapping Transgender Hermeneutics in the 21st Century
Authors: Apostolacus Katherine
Published: September 2018

In this article, I present a meta-analysis of reception history as a discipline, followed by a study in the interpretative methods used by transgender Christians. Following Helen Savage’s work on transgender Christians’ spirituality, I concede her three observed hermeneutical methods: 1) establishing a hierarchy of texts, 2) resolution through historical criticism, and 3) changing the subject. I also add to her observations two additional observed methods: 4) self-insertion and 5) Scripture as precedent. These observations noted, the landscape of transgender Christians’ theologies is revealed as more diverse than others have previously anticipated, and increasingly so. This research also opens up space for theologians, scholars, and clergy to understand transgender hermeneutics and theology with a greater deal of nuance and care.
A Father’s Lament Doubly Received: Robert Alter, Nigel Butterley, and David’s Lament for Absalom
Authors: Rees Anthony
Published: September 2018

David’s lament in 2 Sam 18:33, on hearing of Absalom’s death, has been an extremely popular text for composers to set to music. The traditional English language settings utilise a text that begins ‘When David Heard’, though these words are absent from the 1611 King James Bible, and the 1560 Geneva bible, and no other extant text supports this rendering. However, a cluster of some thirteen settings of the text in the seventeenth century which appropriated this translation established somewhat of a ‘tradition.’ Settings through to the twenty-first century have continued to utilise this text, with one prominent composer assuming that the textual tradition came from the King James Bible. However, Australian composer Nigel Butterley has produced a setting which makes use of Robert Alter’s translation of the David story. Rather than focus on the single verse, Butterley redacts four chapters of Alter’s translation into a comprehensible narrative, punctuated by the refrain ‘Beni Avshalom. Beni, veni Avshalom’ which appears three times, and the full lament which occurs on the last two occasions. This paper examines Butterley’s appropriation of Alter’s translation, and the musical vocabulary which is employed in conveying this deeply moving text. Interested as it is in issues of interpretation, it reveals Butterley as a both sensitive and powerful reader of scripture.
Kommunikationskampagnen im Gesundheitsbereich – Historie und Trends
Authors: Stehr Paula , Constanze Rossmann
Published: September 2018

Seit den ersten Versuchen zu Beginn des 18. Jahrhunderts, Gesundheit durch Kommunikationsmaßnahmen zu fördern, wurden in Bezug auf Design, Implementierung und Evaluation von Kommunikationskampagnen große Fortschritte erzielt. Der vorliegende Beitrag definiert Gesundheitskampagnen und beschreibt deren geschichtliche Entwicklung sowie die Rahmenbedingungen in Deutschland. Darüber hinaus greift er Trends der Kampagnenplanung wie Evidenzbasierung, Zielgruppen-Segmentierung und digitale Medien auf.
Geographical mobility and social motility in the Aegean before and after 6600 BC
Authors: Reingruber Agathe
Published: September 2018

Eine der folgenreichsten Veränderungen in der Menschheitsgeschichte betrifft die Überwindung der Abhängigkeit von ausschließlich lokalen Ressourcen durch die am Beginn des Holozäns im Vorderen Orient einsetzende Domestikation von zuerst Pflanzen und dann Tieren. Jede Generation von Archäologen hat diesen Wandel im Lichte neu gewonnen Wissens aufgrund neuer Ausgrabungen und neuer analytischer Methoden reflektiert. Die Ausbreitung der produzierenden Wirtschaftsweise aus dem Kerngebiet in Nachbarregionen wurde dabei vornehmlich als kultureller Wandel gedeutet, der durch Auswanderer oder Kolonisten vollzogen worden wäre. Dementsprechend beinhalten die vorgeschlagenen Neolithisierungsmodelle lineare Bewegungen von Ost nach West, die den scheinbar abrupten Kulturwandel erklärten.

Dabei wurde der Konzeptualisierung von Begriffen wie Kolonisation oder Migration, wie sie von Soziologen vorgeschlagen wurde, wenig Aufmerksamkeit geschenkt. Unter Berücksichtigung soziologischer Studien wird der Schwerpunkt dieser Untersuchung weniger auf dem schnellen kulturellen als vielmehr auf dem langsamen, generationenübergreifenden sozialen Wandel und auf der aktiven sozialen Beweglichkeit (Motilität) liegen. Die Perspektive ist folglich nicht die von Neuankömmlingen aus dem neolithischen Anatolien, sondern die der mesolithischen ägäischen Gemeinschaften. Es mag nämlich nicht die Entscheidung mobiler Bauern gewesen sein, nahe oder ferne Regionen zu „kolonisieren“, sondern die der Jäger und Sammler, Innovationen aus den Ursprungsgebieten (selektiv) zu übernehmen und ihren eigenen Bedürfnissen anzupassen. Als aktive Entscheidungsträger setzten sie einen Prozess in Gange, der nicht nur zu ökonomischen, sondern auch, über mehrere Generationen hinweg, zu sozialen und kulturellen Veränderungen führte.
Ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammation by Hesperidin and vitamin E in doxorubicin induced cardiomyopathy
Authors: Donia Thoria , Eldaly Samar , Ali Ehab M.M.
Published: September 2018

Background

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a common chemotherapeutic drug. However, it causes cardiomyopathy which reduces its clinical use in human cancer therapy.

Objective

The purpose of our study was to assess the cardioprotective effect of hesperidin (HSP) and vitamin E (VIT.E) against DOX-induced cardiomyopathy.

Material and methods

Seventy rats were allocated into seven groups: control, HSP (50 mg/kg, orally), VIT.E (100 mg/kg orally), DOX [4 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)], DOX+HSP, DOX+VIT.E and DOX+HSP+VIT.E.

Results

Our findings showed that serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), myeloperoxidase (MPO), cardiac catalase and caspase activities as well as cardiac malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum nitric oxide (NO) concentrations were reduced DOX+HSP or DOX+VIT.E or DOX+VIT.E+HSP groups compared to DOX group. Whereas, cardiac reduced glutathione (GSH) level, serum arylesterase, and paraoxonase activities were higher in rats injected with DOX and administrated with HSP and VIT.E than that of rats injected with DOX only. Cardiac histopathology of DOX group showed some changes that were improved during administration with HSP and VIT.E.

Conclusion

HSP and VIT.E possess a protective effect against DOX-induced cardiomyopathy via inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.
Strategies to Increase Athletes' Transformational Leadership Behaviors During Strength and Conditioning Sessions
Authors: Smith Valerie , Moore E. Whitney G.
Published: September 2018

OFTEN, LEADERSHIP IS PRESUMED TO NATURALLY RESULT FROM ATHLETIC EXPERIENCES. HOWEVER, LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS REQUIRE PRACTICE. STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACHES (SCCs) CAN PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL ATHLETES TO PRACTICE TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS, WHICH CAN INCREASE TEAM COHESION AND PERFORMANCE. THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS ATHLETE LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP ROLES AND 4 TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS (IDEALIZED INFLUENCE, INSPIRATIONAL MOTIVATION, INDIVIDUALIZED CONSIDERATION, AND INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION). THEN, DAILY STRATEGIES SCCs CAN INCORPORATE INTO TRAINING TO FOSTER ATHLETES' TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP ARE PRESENTED FOLLOWED BY STRATEGIES FOR LARGER, ROTATING LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES. THESE STRATEGIES CAN WORK WITH ATHLETES ACROSS AGE, SEX, AND COMPETITIVE LEVEL.
Numerical Study on the Triaxial Stress Condition for Ring-like Fractures around Deep Underground Openings
Authors: Jia Peng
Published: September 2018

The fracture pattern of rock mass surrounding a deep tunnel is closely related to the in situ stress, which is generally quite anisotropic. This study focuses on the triaxial stress condition for the formation of ring-like fractures around tunnels through three dimensional numerical modeling. The fracture patterns around both the tunnel and ahead of the tunnel face under different anisotropic triaxial stresses were analyzed, and the influence of tunnel shape on the formation of ring-like fractures was also discussed. A conceptual criterion for the formation of ring-like fractures was proposed based on the simulations. It was found that the ring-like fractures can be expected when the axial pressure coefficient is less than 0.3, regardless of the tunnel shape. Ring-like fractures are more likely to be located near tunnel-free surfaces with a larger radius of curvature. The aim of this article is to shed some light on the interpretation of failure phenomenon in deep underground excavations.
Estimation and Prediction for the Generalized Half Normal Distribution under Hybrid Censoring
Authors: Sultana Farha , Tripathi Yogesh Mani
Published: September 2018

In this article, we make estimation and prediction inferences for the generalized half normal distribution. The maximum likelihood and Bayes estimators of unknown parameters are obtained based on hybrid Type I censored samples. We obtain asymptotic intervals using the observed Fisher information matrix and also construct bootstrap intervals of unknown parameters. Bayes estimators are obtained under the squared error loss function using different approximation methods. We also construct the highest posterior density intervals of unknown parameters. Further one- and two-sample predictors and prediction intervals of censored observations are discussed. A Monte Carlo simulation study is conducted to compare the performance of the proposed methods. We further analyze a real data set for illustrative purposes. Finally, conclusions are presented.
Manajemen Program Pelayanan Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT)
Authors: Santoso M. Husni Ari , Wahyono Bambang
Published: September 2018

Data Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia melaporkan bahwa jumlah kasus baru HIV positif setiap tahun cenderung mengalami peningkatan. Berdasarkan Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan Republik Indonesia nomor 21 tahun 2013 tentang penanggulangan HIV dan AIDS, untuk pemeriksaan diagnosis HIV dapat dilakukan dengan Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT). Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui gambaran manajemen program pelayanan Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) di Puskesmas Lebdosari Kota Semarang. Metode penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode penelitian kualitatif dengan jenis penelitian menggunakan penelitian deskriptif kualitatif. Teknik pengambilan data dalam penelitian ini adalah wawancara mendalam dan studi dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian ini adalah sumber daya manusia dan sarana yang cukup, tidak ada dana alokasi khusus untuk pelaksanaan program pelayanan VCT, metode pelaksanaan cenderung menggunakan VCT tetap, pemasaran VCT dengan melakukan penyuluhan, perencanaan VCT dilakukan oleh bagian UKM dan UKP, pembagian tugas dan wewenang dalam pengorganisasian VCT dilakukan berdasarkan petugas yang mengikuti pelatihan, tahapan pelayanan VCT sudah sesuai dengan pedoman, evaluasi VCT hanya sebatas laporan sedangkan proses pelaksanaannya jarang dilakukan, dan jumlah kunjungan pasien dalam beberapa bulan terakhir cenderung mengalami penurunan. Saran untuk pelaksanaan VCT yaitu meningkatkan peran petugas VCT dalam pelaksanaan program pelayanan VCT sehingga dapat mempengaruhi masyarakat atau kelompok berisiko untuk melakukan pemeriksaan VCT.

Kata Kunci : Manajemen Pelayanan, VCT, Puskesmas
Intelektinis kapitalas verslo strateginės plėtros kontekste
Authors: Broniukaitis Romualdas
Published: September 2018

[only abstract in English; full article and abstract in Lithuanian]

The need to establish themselves in a dynamic and complex business environment urges organisations to look for innovations that would foster business development. Organisations are forced to continuously develop and improve new strategies for competitive advantage, flexibility and innovativeness. The aim to succeed in a complex and heterogeneous environment leads to the approach that the most valuable organisational resource is its intangible assets – its employees’ knowledge and skills. Maintaining the level of these assets and integrating them into organisation’s activities becomes the critical factor in strategic business development. Theoretical approach and the central assumption of this study is that intangible resources are a strategic asset that plays the key role in creating long-term competitive advantage. The article aims to demonstrate the importance of intellectual capital and its influence on strategic business development. The article develops a new understanding of business development in a long-term perspective by emphasising the importance of the interrelationship between intellectual capital and its elements for organisational success. The article highlights the importance of a strategic approach to holistic management of intangible resources in pursuit of organisational effectiveness. The article uses methods of literature review, comparative analysis and synthesis.