bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermal and mechanical properties of chemical modification on sugarcane bagasse mixed with polypropylene and recycle acrylonitrile butadiene rubber composite
Authors: Zainal Mustaffa , Santiagoo Ragunathan , Ayob Afizah , Ghani Azlinda Abdul , Mustafa Wan Azani , Othman Nurul Syazwani
Published: April 2019

The goal of this research is to investigate the thermal, chemical, and tensile properties of chemical modification of sugarcane bagasse (SCB)-filled polypropylene (PP) and recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr). The composites with different SCB loading (5, 15, and 30 per hundred resin) were prepared using a heated two-roll mill at temperature of 180°C.Thermal and the tensile properties of the modified SCB composite have shown improvement. The silane-treated composites have higher thermal stability compared to treated NaOH. The degradation temperature at 70% weight ( T 70%) of NaOH and silane composite increase by 6% and 15%, respectively. Meanwhile, the tensile strength and Young’s modulus for the both treatment showed an improvement of 20% and 25% for NaOH and 30% and 32% for silane compared to untreated composites, respectively. The chemical properties were investigated using Fourier transform infrared analysis. The modification SCB fiber has improved the adhesion and interfacial bonding between SCB fiber and PP/NBRr matrices.
Derived from poplar leaves graphene-modified silicone rubber composites
Authors: Wu Weili , Huang He
Published: April 2019

Poplar leaves graphene (PLG) was synthesized from the poplar leaves. Modified poplar leaves graphene (M-PLG) was obtained by graphene treated with silane coupling agent γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550). The M-PLG-modified silicone rubber (methyl ethylene silicon rubber [MVQ]) composites were prepared by mechanical blending. The effects of M-PLG on the mechanical properties, thermal properties, and morphology structure of MVQ were investigated. The results showed that the carbon content and purity of the PLG were high. The M-PLG can be evenly dispersed into MVQ compared with the PLG, the mechanical properties of the M-PLG/MVQ composites were better than those of the PLG/MVQ when M-PLG content was 0.1 parts per hundred rubber (phr), the tensile strength and elongation at break are increased by 36.2% and 19.4% respectively, and wear resistance increased by 57.1%. The thermal stability of the M-PLG/MVQ was also better. This concept of combining PLG with MVQ demonstrated the potential of preparing novel green materials with excellent properties.
Coupled vibration modeling and dynamic characteristics of noncircular face gear drive system with time-varying instantaneous center excitation
Authors: Liu Dawei , Gu Dandan , Liu Zhijia
Published: April 2019

Noncircular face gear drive is a new type of variable transmission ratio mechanism with advantages of light weight, high interchangeability, and convenient installation. Based on its transmission principle, the excitation pattern of the time-varying instantaneous center of the noncircular face gear drive system is investigated. A torsional–lateral–axial coupled dynamic model of the noncircular face gear system is presented under the compound parametric excitations of the time-varying instantaneous center and the mesh stiffness. By using Runge–Kutta numerical integration method, the dynamic responses of the system are derived to analyze the vibration features of the noncircular face gear under compound parametric excitations and the effect of the design parameters on the coupled vibration. The analytical results indicate that there exist multifrequency components in the dynamic responses of the system, including the instantaneous center frequency f1, the meshing one f2, nf1, mf2, and mf2 ±  nf1. In addition, the dynamic performance of the noncircular face gear drive can be improved by decreasing the amplitude coefficient of the instantaneous center and the mesh stiffness or increasing their mean values.
Assisting or opposing MHD flow of cross fluid along a non-isothermal surface with variable thermal conductivity
Authors: Sultan Aiman , Mustafa M , Rahi Mahmood
Published: April 2019

Locally similar solutions are developed for aiding or opposing MHD flow near stagnation-point on a vertical stretchable surface immersed in a generalized Newtonian fluid obeying Cross rheology equation. Heat transfer problem is resolved by assuming a linear surface temperature distribution. Furthermore, fluid having variable thermal conductivity is treated. By choosing the usual transformations, the governing equations of fluid motion and energy transfer are changed into similar forms. The structure of boundary layer is controlled by a parameter measuring the ratio of free stream velocity to the wall velocity. Numerical computations are performed to address the influences of Cross fluid parameters on mean physical quantities. In particular, shear thinning character of Cross fluid is visible from the obtained simulations. Computations are found in perfect line with those of the existing literature. The physical outcomes concerning the effects of embedded parameters on wall drag coefficient and heat transfer rates are also explained in detail.
Health implications of sex trading characteristics in Long Beach, California, USA
Authors: Clingan Sara E , Fisher Dennis G , Hardan-Khalil Kholoud , Reynolds Grace L , Huckabay Loucine , Costa Christine , Pedersen William C , Johnson Mark E
Published: April 2019

This study examined the comparative health risk behaviors of women who (a) traded sex for money, (b) traded sex for drugs, (c) traded sex for both drugs and money, or (d) did not trade sex. Self-report data were collected from 2369 women who received services through HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing programs and a subset were tested for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis. Results revealed those women who traded sex only for money used condoms, were tested for HIV, and received the HIV test results more often than the other women. Women who traded sex for both drugs and money reported a significantly higher prevalence of gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis; were more likely to test positive for hepatitis B, syphilis, and HIV; engaged more often in sex acts without condoms; and were incarcerated for significantly more days. Based on these findings, the targets with greatest potential for STI prevention interventions are female sex workers who trade sex for both drugs and money.
University students’ behaviours towards accessing sexual health information and treatment
Authors: Gray Benjamin J , Jones Adam T , Couzens Zoë , Sagar Tracey , Jones Debbie
Published: April 2019

Globally, it is widely recognised that young people (those under the age of 25 years) are at a higher risk of developing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The majority of university students studying in the UK fall within this age bracket, and to help prevent such high incidence of STIs in this age group, it is essential that advice and treatment, if required, are obtained from reliable sources. This study sought to explore sources of sexual heath advice and treatment for students at Welsh universities (n = 3007). The main sources of advice were identified as the internet (49.1%) and GP/family doctors (38.9%), whilst local sexual health clinics (24.9%) and GP/family doctor services (20.2%) were the main sources for treatment in students. Males were more likely than females to report never needing advice (AOR 2.74; CI = 2.24–3.35) or requiring treatment (AOR 1.37; CI = 1.17–1.60). The apparent lack of engagement with these services by male students is a cause for concern, although one possible solution could be to further develop online methods to increase uptake of testing. Furthermore, the popularity of the internet for advice provides a timely reminder that regulation of online sexual health information is critical.
HIV and HCV screening among trauma patients
Authors: Simoncini Gina M , Oyola-Jimenez Josue , Singleton Davone , Volgraf Jill , Ramsey Frederick V , Goldberg Amy
Published: April 2019

The purpose of this study was to develop a hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV screening program for patients evaluated by the trauma service and link to care. Patients were offered screening for HCV antibody and HIV. Demographics were collected on gender, race, age, and history of intravenous drug use. A navigator connected patients to treatment. In total, 1160 trauma patients were screened for HCV and/or HIV. There were 162 (14%) patients with HCV antibodies. Patients who inject drugs comprised 39.5% (64) of the HCV antibody positive group. Forty-six (68.7%) patients received linkage to care services and 55 (34%) patients were actively engaged in treatment. There were 155 (10.5%) of all eligible patients screened for HIV. Twenty-one (13.5%) patients were living with HIV (PLWH) and there were two (1.3%) new HIV infections. All new PLWH were linked to care and a total of 14 (73.7%) PLWH were on antiretroviral therapy. This is the first HCV and HIV screening and linkage to care program of trauma surgery patients. In this interim program evaluation, we found high prevalence of HCV antibody and HIV prevalence and high linkage to care rates. Trauma service HCV and HIV screening is an opportunity to diagnose, link, and re-engage a vulnerable population.
CD4/CD8 ratio improvement in HIV-1-infected patients receiving dual antiretroviral treatment
Authors: Monsalvo Marta , Vallejo Alejandro , Fontecha María , Vivancos María J , Vizcarra Pilar , Casado José L
Published: April 2019

The CD4/CD8 ratio is an indirect marker of immune activation, immune senescence, and inflammation in HIV infection. We performed a prospective study of the CD4/CD8 ratio evolution in 245 virally-suppressed (median, 55 months) HIV-infected patients (29% females) who had switched to four dual antiretroviral regimens. At baseline, the median CD4/CD8 ratio was 0.71 (interquartile range, IQR, 0.46–0.97), associated with duration of HIV infection, nadir CD4+ cell count, and AIDS diagnosis. It was lower in the case of hepatitis C virus coinfection and cardiovascular disease (p = 0.09), but the ratio was higher in patients with chronic kidney disease, proteinuria, or osteoporosis. At 48 weeks, the median CD4/CD8 ratio increased by 3% (+0.02; IQR, –0.07, +0.09; p = 0.07); greater improvement was observed in patients with lower baseline ratios and previous AIDS diagnosis. The slope of increase was slower in patients with the highest baseline values. Also, there were no differences in the CD4/CD8 ratio increase according to type of dual regimen, after adjusting for baseline and HIV-related values. In conclusion, CD4/CD8 ratio increase is observed during suppressive dual regimens, and its extent is related to baseline values and previous HIV-related factors. Longer duration on antiretroviral therapy and drug toxicity could affect the evolution of this marker in the presence of comorbidities.
Double stance discourse: Managing social and personal identity at work
Authors: Bonnin Juan Eduardo
Published: April 2019

This article presents the results of a collaborative interdisciplinary multimethod research project on psychosocial risks and communication in the workplace that involved the Union of Metro Workers in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The objective of this article is twofold: on one hand, to understand an apparent contradiction in the results of the quantitative survey, which showed very high levels of stress and, at the same time, very high levels of satisfaction. To do this, we conducted a discourse analysis of in-depth interviews with subway workers. On the other hand, the results of this analysis allowed us to coin the concept of ‘double stance discourse’ as a way of describing a specific type of response that differentiates both personal and collective perspectives toward the issue of job satisfaction. We conclude that these ‘to me’ and ‘to others’ responses are a resource for individuals to reconcile, in discourse, conflictive individual and social experiences of working conditions.
A context-driven platform using Internet of things and data stream processing for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems control
Authors: Lachhab Fadwa , Bakhouya Mohamed , Ouladsine Radouane , Essaaidi Mohammed
Published: April 2019

Control approaches of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in buildings have been proposed in the past years for minimizing energy consumption and maintaining occupants’ comfort. However, recent studies have shown that context-driven control approaches using Internet of things and data stream processing technologies could further improve energy saving in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. In this article, an intelligent control approach using a state feedback technique is introduced to regulate the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system according to the actual context. The proposed thermal state feedback control was then implemented and deployed in our EEBLab to study its effectiveness in a real-setting scenario. The performance of the proposed control was evaluated in a real test-site by deploying a control card that links the controller with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. A smart mobile application for real feedback control was also developed and deployed to dynamically adapt the controller to context’s changes. The mobile application and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system communicate and exchange data under a data acquisition and visualization platform. In this article, a holistic platform that combines Internet of things and data stream processing technologies was developed and deployed in a real-setting scenario. Experiments have been performed, and results are reported to demonstrate the effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed approach in terms of energy saving while maintaining a comfortable room temperature. The proposed state feedback control outperforms the proportional–integral–derivative and ON/OFF approaches in terms of energy consumption while providing acceptable thermal comfort by allowing a neutral thermal sensation with ± 0.30 of predictive mean vote and less than 7% of predicted percentage of dissatisfaction.
Non-pharmacologic therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Fangtham M , Kasturi S , Bannuru R R , Nash J L , Wang C
Published: April 2019

Background

Non-pharmacologic therapies have been deemed as potentially beneficial for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. We conducted an updated review to determine the effects of these therapies to inform practice.

Methods

A literature search was performed using PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Cochrane, PsychINFO, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from inception until August 2018. We included randomized controlled trials of non-pharmacologic therapies in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with sample size ≥10. Systemic lupus erythematosus was defined by 1982 or 1997 American College of Rheumatology criteria. Studies were synthesized separately by patient-reported outcomes and disease activity. Due to the heterogeneity of interventions and comparisons, a meta-analysis was not performed.

Results

A total of 15 randomized controlled trials involving 846 participants met the inclusion criteria. Of the 15 trials, eight used exercise interventions, six used psychological interventions (one group psychotherapy, three cognitive behavioral therapies, one psychoeducation, one mindfulness-based cognitive therapy) and one used electro-acupuncture. Five of 15 studies utilized control groups consisting of usual medical care. Other studies included control interventions of relaxation, attention placebo, symptom monitoring support, education, minimal needling, isotonic and resistance exercise. Compared with the control conditions, non-pharmacological interventions were associated with a significant improvement in fatigue in three out of six studies. Three out of eight studies reported improved anxiety and depression, and one study reported improved pain after interventions. Seven out of 11 studies reported improvement in overall quality of life in at least one domain of the Short-Form Health Survey. Of note, no studies demonstrated an improvement in disease activity after 5–52 weeks of non-pharmacological therapies.

Conclusion

This review showed promising results for physical exercise and psychological interventions as adjuncts to traditional medical therapy for improvement in fatigue, depression, pain and quality of life for systemic lupus erythematosus. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up periods are warranted.
Classification of affect using deep learning on brain blood flow data
Authors: Bandara Danushka , Hirshfield Leanne , Velipasalar Senem
Published: April 2019

We present a convolutional neural network- and long short-term memory-based method to classify the valence level of a computer user based on functional near infrared spectroscopy data. Convolutional neural networks are well suited for capturing the spatial characteristics of functional near infrared spectroscopy data. And long short-term memories are demonstrated to be good at learning temporal patterns of unknown length in time series data. We explore these methods in a combined layered architecture in order to improve classification accuracy. We conducted an experiment with 20 participants, wherein they were subjected to emotion inducing stimuli while their brain activity was measured using functional near infrared spectroscopy. Self-report surveys were administered after each stimulus to gauge participants' self-assessment of their valence. The resulting classification using these survey labels as ground truth provided a three-class classification accuracy 77.89% in across subject cross-validation. This method also shows promise for generalization to other classification tasks using functional near infrared spectroscopy data.
Threshold Effect of Bank-specific Determinants of Non-performing Assets: An Application in Indian Banking
Authors: Bardhan Samaresh , Sharma Rajesh , Mukherjee Vivekananda
Published: April 2019

The article investigates role of bank-specific factors on non-performing assets (NPAs) in Indian banking system in a panel threshold framework (Hansen, 1999, Journal of Econometrics, 93(2), 345–368), using an unbalanced panel of 82 scheduled commercial banks over the period of 1995–1996 to 2010–2011. We consider capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (CRAR) and credit growth as alternative threshold variables (and regime dependent) along with relevant bank-specific variables treated as regime independent. Findings reveal that CRAR exerts negative and significant impact on NPAs once it reaches a critical threshold. Possible implication is that banks extend less risky loans in a high CRAR regime than in low CRAR regime that helps reduce NPAs. With credit growth as threshold as well as regime dependent, we observe statistically significant non-linear effect of credit growth on NPAs. Beyond threshold, credit growth exerts significant negative effect on NPAs that may imply that banks extend good quality loans. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of evidence of ‘ever-greening hypothesis’ of bad debts in Indian banking, that is, banks just roll over previous bad debts into fresh performing loans.

JEL Classification: G21, G28, C13, C33
Ride comfort analysis of passenger body biodynamics in active quarter car model using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system based super twisting sliding mode control
Authors: Singh Devdutt
Published: April 2019

In this paper, a four degrees of freedom biodynamic human body model is used for ride comfort analysis, which is coupled with a three degrees of freedom quarter car model. The random road profile is generated in a simulation environment using the ISO 8608:2016 standard. In order to suppress the adverse effects of road induced vibrations on the human body, a super-twisting sliding mode control (STSMC) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) based super-twisting sliding mode control (ASTSMC) strategy is used in the main suspension of the active quarter car model. The ride comfort response of the human body segments is compared for passive and active suspension systems using the ISO 2631-1:1997 standard. Based on the simulation results in time and frequency domain related to acceleration and displacement response for head and neck, upper torso, viscera and lower torso, it is shown that the ride comfort provided by the ASTSMC controller is much improved compared to the STSMC and passive control method. It can be finalized from the present research work that active suspension with the ASTSMC control strategy can successfully reduce the adverse effects of road induced vibrations on human body health and safety.
Case report on hypersensitivity to methotrexate infusion in a pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patient
Authors: Sajith Manjusha , Pawar Atmaram , Bafna Vibha , Bartakke Sandip
Published: April 2019

Methotrexate is extensively used in the treatment of various malignancies and autoimmune conditions. Methotrexate is associated with several toxicities, while hypersensitivity reactions to methotrexate are unusual, but have been reported in adult cancer patients. Hereby, we detail the case of a child with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who developed a hypersensitivity reaction to high-dose methotrexate infusion (HDMTX) during the fourth cycle of HDMTX. The child was rechallenged with another brand of methotrexate; she started complaining of itching on trunk within 5 min of infusion. Few studies have reported that desensitization has been helpful in children with hypersensitivity reactions allowing the continuation of HDMTX. However, it was decided to omit parenteral methotrexate for this child. Cranial radiotherapy was given for CNS prophylaxis. In conclusion, unexpected hypersensitivity with methotrexate should be kept in mind during the treatment especially with high-dose infusion.
Computational reproducibility of scientific workflows at extreme scales
Authors: Pouchard Line , Baldwin Sterling , Elsethagen Todd , Jha Shantenu , Raju Bibi , Stephan Eric , Tang Li , Van Dam Kerstin Kleese
Published: April 2019

We propose an approach for improved reproducibility that includes capturing and relating provenance characteristics and performance metrics. We discuss two use cases: scientific reproducibility of results in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM—previously ACME) and performance reproducibility in molecular dynamics workflows on HPC platforms. To capture and persist the provenance and performance data of these workflows, we have designed and developed the Chimbuko and ProvEn frameworks. Chimbuko captures provenance and enables detailed single workflow performance analysis. ProvEn is a hybrid, queryable system for storing and analyzing the provenance and performance metrics of multiple runs in workflow performance analysis campaigns. Workflow provenance and performance data output from Chimbuko can be visualized in a dynamic, multilevel visualization providing overview and zoom-in capabilities for areas of interest. Provenance and related performance data ingested into ProvEn is queryable and can be used to reproduce runs. Our provenance-based approach highlights challenges in extracting information and gaps in the information collected. It is agnostic to the type of provenance data it captures so that both the reproducibility of scientific results and that of performance can be explored with our tools.
A review of the evolution of robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Subramanian Padmanabhan , Wainwright Tom W , Bahadori Shayan , Middleton Robert G
Published: April 2019

Introduction:

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is currently a very successful operation but continues to evolve as we try to perfect techniques and improve outcomes for our patients. Robotic hip surgery (RHS) began with the ‘active’ ROBODOC system in the 1980s. There were drawbacks associated with the original ROBODOC and most recently, the MAKO robot was introduced with early promising results.

Aim:

The aim of this paper is to provide an up-to-date review surrounding this area and discuss the pros and cons of this technique.

Methods:

A literature review searching Medline, Embase, Ovidsp, Cochrane library, pubmed database and google scholar was performed searching keywords including: ‘Robotic hip surgery’, ‘Robotic orthopaedic surgery’, ‘Computer assisted hip surgery’, ‘robotic arthroplasty’, and ‘computer assisted orthopaedic surgery’.

Conclusion:

Robotic hip surgery aims to tackle the limitations of the human factor in surgery by promising reproducible and reliable methods of component positioning in arthroplasty surgery. However, as orthopaedic surgeons, we must critically appraise all new technology and support the use providing there is sound robust evidence backing it.
Clinical Insights About Topical Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate Pediatric and Adult Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Lynde Charles W. , Bergman James , Fiorillo Loretta , Guenther Lyn , Keddy-Grant Jill , Landells Ian , Marcoux Danielle , Ramien Michele , Rehmus Wingfield
Published: April 2019

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition, also referred to as atopic eczema, that is identified by itching and recurrent eczematous lesions. It often starts in infancy where it affects up to 20% of children but is also highly prevalent in adults. AD inflicts a significant psychosocial burden on patients and their families and increases the risk of other immune-mediated inflammatory conditions, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, food allergy, and mental health disorders. It is a lifelong condition associated with epidermal barrier dysfunction and altered immune function. Through the use of emollients and anti-inflammatory agents, current prevention and treatment therapies attempt to restore epidermal barrier function. Acute flares are treated with topical corticosteroids. Topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs) and topical corticosteroids (TCSs) are used for proactive treatment to prevent remission. There remains a need and opportunity to improve AD care through future research directed toward an improved understanding of the heterogeneity of the disease and its subtypes, the role of autoimmunity in its pathogenesis, the mechanisms behind disease-associated itch and response to specific allergens, and the comparative effectiveness and safety of therapies.
Teaching cursive handwriting: A contribution to the acceptability study of using digital tablets in French classrooms
Authors: Bonneton-Botte Nathalie , Beucher-Marsal Claude , Bara Florence , Muller Julie , Corf Laurence Le , Quéméneur Marielle , Dare Maud
Published: April 2019

The process of teaching and learning handwriting is complex and laborious. A digital learning environment in the form of a tablet app could enhance teachers' knowledge of writer characteristics and their management of classroom diversity. This study aims to identify the needs of cursive writing teachers from a survey of 164 kindergarten teachers in France teaching writing skills for children aged 5 to 6 years. The results provide insights into teacher needs and, therefore, can be used to identify the acceptability criteria of a tool designed to scaffold the teaching of writing gestures. The results of needs analyses have been interpreted in the light of new scientific findings on reading and writing skills, and there is a discussion on the potential of such a digital learning environment for the classroom, particularly during the training and skills assessment phases. Questionnaire answers show that the teachers interviewed rarely use digital tools in the classroom and this prompts reflection on the value and meaning that preschool children give to the digital trace.
Mapping: Coming to grips with educational landscapes
Authors: Kvernbekk Tone , Jarning Harald
Published: April 2019

This paper is about education as a discipline and a research field and various attempts to circumscribe and map it. First, we look at different Norwegian attempts to represent education understood as a discipline, in terms of maps of the discipline from 1926 to date. Second, we inquire into the historical changes in the landscape supposedly mapped, using empirical sources. This inquiry basically shows that the discipline/landscape has expanded immensely over the past 30 years or so; it has outgrown its disciplinary boundaries and is better viewed as a field. This field can be characterized as fragmented, as having no obvious unity, with porous boundaries and content in flux. This poses great challenges for disciplinary mapmaking. That brings us to our third topic: what do we do in such a situation? We shall inquire into a few possible responses. Mapping of the whole field is not feasible, but there are possibilities for mapping of selected areas and creation of local order in the field. The diagnosed flux is a double-edged sword. On the one hand it leads to fragmentation and identity problems, but on the other hand it may open up for more general renewal as well as new and unusual groupings or connections.
Methods for assessing the effects of spatial luminance patterns on perceived qualities of concert lighting
Authors: Lo VWL , Steemers KA
Published: April 2019

This paper presents experimental approaches for evaluating concert lighting from the viewpoints of audience members and performers in Cambridge King's College Chapel. We develop image zoning and abstraction techniques to quantify and interpret photometric data acquired under four different electric lighting conditions. Assessed by 78 participants, these lighting scenarios are compared across six different viewing positions using a set of structured questionnaires. Ordered logistic regression modelling shows that the ratios and functions describing uniformity, brightness and light patterns are common explanatory variables for predicting perceived visual clarity, visual uniformity, brightness and spatial intimacy. Uniformity-related attributes are observed to be among the strongest variables for all these perceived qualities, except for visual clarity, which is better explained by acuity-related measures. These experimental results confirm the applicability of our approaches, highlighting the importance of combining multiple methods and integrating complex architectural situations into the process of understanding luminous appearance.
Climate change and Indigenous Health Promotion
Authors: Jones Rhys
Published: April 2019

Climate change poses a serious threat to the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples around the world. Despite living in diverse contexts, Indigenous peoples face a number of common challenges. Disproportionate threats from climate change exist due to a range of factors including unique relationships with the natural environment, socioeconomic deprivation, a greater existing burden of disease, poorer access to and quality of health care, and political marginalization. Responses to climate change at global, national, and local levels also threaten Indigenous people’s rights. While climate action presents many opportunities to improve health and reduce inequities, there is also significant potential for climate mitigation and adaptation policies to inflict harm on Indigenous peoples. An important aspect of this is the impact on traditional lands, which are acknowledged as a fundamental determinant of Indigenous health and well-being. This article seeks to elucidate the relationships between climate change and Indigenous health and to inform health promotion solutions to achieve climate justice for Indigenous peoples. The underpinning analysis is founded on a Kaupapa Māori positioning, which seeks transformative change and involves critiquing Western knowledges and structures that undermine Indigenous rights. A central theme is that anthropogenic climate change is intimately connected to the ideologies, systems and practices of colonialism, and that the impacts on Indigenous peoples can be conceptualized as an intensification of the process of colonization. It is not possible to understand and address climate-related health impacts for Indigenous peoples without examining this broader context of colonial oppression, marginalization and dispossession. The challenge for health promotion is to engage in a process of decolonization. This involves deconstructing its own systems and practices to avoid reinforcing colonialism and perpetuating inequities. It also requires health promotion practitioners to support Indigenous self-determination and recognize Indigenous knowledges as a critical foundation for climate change and health solutions.
Illegal wild birds’ trade in a street market in the region of Guelma, north-east of Algeria
Authors: Razkallah Imane , Atoussi Sadek , Telailia Salah , Abdelghani Merzoug , Zihad Bouslama , Moussa Houhamdi
Published: April 2019

Overexploitation of resources represents a major factor in biodiversity loss. The illegal capture and trade of wildlife species pose a serious threat to them. Algeria is a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1982, thereby joining the dynamics of wild fauna and flora protection. The list of wildlife species was last updated by Executive Decree No. 12-235 of 24 May 2012. In Algeria, songbirds are greatly appreciated as pet animals by pet enthusiasts. Unfortunately, habitat loss as a result of repeated forest fires in the Mediterranean region and the illegal capture of these birds cause severe damage to wild populations. The European goldfinch is the preferred species of bird enthusiasts because of its beautiful colours and its very particular singing abilities. Other species like the European serin ( Serinus serinus) are, however, used for breeding with the European goldfinch and thus the creation of hybrids. For the purposes of assessing both the impact on populations and the economic impact of the illegal capture and trade of wild birds, a survey has been conducted on the bird market held, on a weekly basis, in the city of Guelma. According to the results, between 3000 and 12,000 European goldfinches are caught every year and around 1200 are sold solely on this market. As far as the European serin is concerned, the capture is estimated at over 1000 birds. The economic impact of this activity only for the sale of recently caught animals is estimated at more than USD80,000 per year.
Personalizing antipsychotic treatment: evidence and thoughts on individualized tailoring of antipsychotic dosage in the treatment of psychotic disorders
Authors: Wunderink Lex
Published: April 2019

Effectiveness of relapse prevention with antipsychotic drugs has been robustly demonstrated. However, the drawbacks of antipsychotic maintenance treatment have prompted alternative strategies to reduce antipsychotic load. A prominent drawback of antipsychotics is their negative impact on subjective well-being, initiative, and drive related to dopamine D2 blockade. This might compromise functional capacity. First-episode studies from 1980 to 2018, including relevant reviews and meta-analyses, are evaluated, showing a lack of functional outcome data. In addition to relapse rates, which is the primary outcome in the great majority of studies, long-term functional outcome is pivotal, because these two outcome domains may point in opposite directions. The trade-off between relapse rates and functional outcome is discussed by our 2013 dose-reduction study. We conclude that divergent outcomes and various individual risk-profiles preclude the construction of a generic outcome measure. The relationship of relapse and functional outcome is considered, as well as the conceivable role of negative symptoms and some related issues. Future profiling of individual risk/benefit characteristics combined with personal preferences may offer better guidance in antipsychotic pharmacotherapy. More studies are needed to elucidate individual risk profiles, predictive of functional capacity and relapse rates, to draw differential conclusions on long-term risks and benefits of antipsychotics across the spectrum of psychosis.
Efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants on the resolution of left ventricular thrombus—A case series and literature review
Authors: Bahmaid Reem A , Ammar Shoroq , Al-Subaie Sarah , Soofi Mohammed A , Mhish Hassan , Yahia Madonna Ali
Published: April 2019

Background

Left ventricular thrombus is a frequent complication of acute myocardial infarction and a risk factor for thromboembolic complications. Warfarin has been frequently used, but has some disadvantages that limit its use. Direct oral anticoagulants, in particular Dabigatran and Rivaroxaban have been proved to be effective in preventing thromboembolism among patients with non-valvular atrial ﬁbrillation. However, no randomized clinical trials testing the efficacy and safety of these agents in patients with existing left ventricular thrombus. Furthermore, direct oral anticoagulants are still not approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the management of left ventricular thrombus.

Method

This study was a retrospective cohort assessing the efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (Dabigatran or Rivaroxaban) on the resolution of left ventricular thrombus in patients taking either of these drugs during the study period from December, 2011 to December, 2016 at King Fahad Medical City. All patients’ records were reviewed and all patients who were diagnosed with left ventricular thrombus were included. Patients without available echocardiogram records were excluded. The study was approved by the institutional review board of King Fahad medical city, Riyadh Saudi Arabia.

Result

During the defined study period we found that 413 and 1218 patients were taking Dabigatran and Rivaroxaban, respectively. After filtering them based on the specialty of the prescriber, we ended up with 299 patients who have been started on Dabigatran and 448 patients who have been started on Rivaroxaban by cardiologists. Moreover, after reviewing echocardiogram reports for all of them (747 patients), we found that 11 patients were diagnosed to have left ventricular thrombus. Among those 11 patients, seven of them were treated with direct oral anticoagulants from the beginning and the remaining four patients were shifted from Warfarin to direct oral anticoagulants. All of them (7 patients) showed left ventricular thrombus resolution on follow-up echocardiogram.

Conclusion

Use of direct oral anticoagulants showed promising results in the resolution of left ventricular thrombus in patients diagnosed with left ventricular thrombus. Further studies at multiple health care centers are needed to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants as compared to traditional treatment in patients with left ventricular thrombus.
Granular cell tumour of the breast: A rare presentation of a breast mass in an elderly female with a subsequent breast cancer diagnosis
Authors: Al-Balas Mahmoud , De Leo Antonio , Serra Margherita , Santini Donatella , Taffurelli Mario
Published: April 2019

A 74-year-old female patient presented with a hard breast mass and dimpling with a clinical suspicion of a carcinoma. Histological evaluation revealed a granular cell tumour. Granular cell tumour is a rare neoplasm, mostly benign in origin that may arise in every body site, 5%–15% of cases occur in the breast. It is strongly suggested that granular cell tumours origin is Schwann cells. Clinically, granular cell tumours presentation may mimic mammary carcinoma and their similar features on mammography and ultrasound make it difficult to differentiate between them.
Use of atypical antipsychotics and risk of hypertension: A case report and review literature
Authors: Alves Beatriz Beretta , Oliveira Giovana de Padua , Moreira Neto Milton Gabriel , Fiorilli Roberta Bonamim , Cestário Elizabeth do Espírito Santo
Published: April 2019

Atypical antipsychotics is being considered in the treatment of “negative” symptoms of psychoses, such as schizophrenia. In this case report, we presented a case of a patient with psychiatric disorder who developed hypertension soon after starting using atypical antipsychotic. A 53-year-old woman had reported having episodes of tachycardia, nausea, headache and high blood pressure. At the time of the doctor’s appointment, the blood pressure was 210/110 mmHg. According to the patient, she made use of simvastatin for dyslipidemia and started taking aripiprazole, an antipsychotic for approximately 40 days before the symptoms. The initial treatment was 20 mg of olmesartan, and examinations were requested. After 2 months, the patient returned with the examinations: altered serum lipids and the other results were normal. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring showed an average of 24 h of 150/100 mmHg. Blood pressure was measured at the doctor’s office; in regular use of 20 mg of olmesartan, it was 156/92 mmHg. The dosage of olmesartan was increased to 40 mg and 1.5 mg of indapamide was initiated. The patient returned after 20 days with a blood pressure of 146/90 mmHg. After approval from the psychiatrist, the Aripiprazole was stopped, and the patient returned 15 days later with blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg. The ambulatory blood pressure monitoring control showed an average of 24 h of 130/78 mmHg. The Dopamine receptors play a role in the regulation of the blood pressure and the alterations in this system can lead to hypertension. D1, D3 and D4 receptors interact with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, while D2 and D5 interact with the sympathetic nervous system in the regulation of PA. The case reported and the literature review bring to light the discussion of the use of atypical antipsychotics and its adverse events. If necessary, the use of these drugs should be followed by careful monitoring of blood pressure.
A new dataset of Dutch and Danish party congress speeches
Authors: Schumacher Gijs , Hansen Daniel , van der Velden Mariken A.C.G. , Kunst Sander
Published: April 2019

We present a new dataset of speeches given by Danish and Dutch politicians at party congresses between 1946 and 2017. The dataset is a unique collection of materials from different party archives and digital repositories. It offers a unique opportunity to analyse the issues discussed in these speeches, the positions taken and the rhetoric used by party elites over time and between countries. We describe the data and illustrate them with one application: a sentiment analysis that describes differences between parties and over time.
Anger, Fear, and Echo Chambers: The Emotional Basis for Online Behavior
Authors: Wollebæk Dag , Karlsen Rune , Steen-Johnsen Kari , Enjolras Bernard
Published: April 2019

Emotions, such as anger and fear, have been shown to influence people’s political behavior. However, few studies link emotions specifically to how people debate political issues and seek political information online. In this article, we examine how anger and fear are related to politics-oriented digital behavior, attempting to bridge the gap between the thus far disconnected literature on political psychology and the digital media. Based on survey data, we show that anger and fear are connected to distinct behaviors online. Angry people are more likely to engage in debates with people having both similar and opposing views. They also seek out information confirming their views more frequently. Anxious individuals, by contrast, tend to seek out information contradicting their opinions. These findings reiterate predictions made in the extant literature concerning the role of emotions in politics. Thus, we argue that anger reinforces echo chamber dynamics and trench warfare dynamics in the digital public sphere, while fear counteracts these dynamics.
The Role of Project Managers as Improvement Agents in Project-Based Organizations
Authors: Sundqvist Erik
Published: April 2019

We propose that the project manager is implicitly expected to participate in and contribute to continuous improvement in project-based organizations (PBOs). This article explores how project management literature treats the project manager in relation to improving overall PBO performance. The results, supported by case study insights, indicate implicit expectations of the project manager to contribute to organization-level PBO improvement. We argue that if organization-level improvement should be part of project management practice in PBOs, as promoted in project management literature, the role of improvement agent needs to be formalized for the project manager.
Signal-to-noise ratio enhancement for 3C downhole microseismic data based on the 3D shearlet transform and improved back-propagation neural networks
Authors: Dong Xintong , Jiang Hong , Zheng Sheng , Li Yue , Yang Baojun
Published: April 2019

As the seismic responses of unconventional hydraulic fracturing, downhole microseismic signals play an essential role in the exploitation of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. In geologic structure interpretation and reservoir development, high-quality downhole microseismic data are necessary. However, the characteristics of downhole microseismic signals, such as weak energy and high frequency, bring great difficulty to signal-to-noise ratio enhancement. How to suppress the random noises in 3C downhole microseismic signals becomes problematic. To solve this problem, the 3D shearlet transform is introduced into downhole microseismic data processing. Different from the 2D shearlet transform, the correlation among the 3C of downhole microseismic signals is fully considered in the 3D shearlet transform, which enables the 3D shearlet transform to suppress random noise more effectively. In addition, for accurate selection of 3D shearlet coefficient, the back-propagation (BP) neural network is applied to the selection of coefficients. Unlike conventional threshold functions, BP neural networks can achieve optimal results by repeated training. At the same time, a new weight factor is proposed to improve the misconvergence of BP neural networks. Experimentally our method has been used to process synthetic and real 3C downhole microseismic signals, with results indicating that, compared with conventional methods, our new algorithm exhibits better performance in valid signal preservation and random noise suppression.