bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Association between Health Conditions in World Trade Center Responders and Sleep-Related Quality of Life and Sleep Complaints
Authors: Ayappa Indu , Chen Yingfeng , Bagchi Nisha , Sanders Haley , Black Kathleen , Twumasi Akosua , Rapoport David M. , Lu Shou-En , Sunderram Jag
Published: April 2019

Background: World Trade Center (WTC) dust-exposed subjects have multiple comorbidities that affect sleep. These include obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), gastroesophageal-reflux disorder (GERD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We examined the impact of these conditions to sleep-related outcomes. Methods: Demographics, co-morbidities and symptoms were obtained from 626 WTC (109F/517M), 33–87years, BMI = 29.96 ± 5.53 kg/m2) subjects. OSA diagnosis was from a 2-night home sleep test (ARESTM). Subjective sleep quality, sleep-related quality of life (QOL, Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire), excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), sleep duration and sleep onset and maintenance complaints were assessed. Results: Poor sleep quality and complaints were reported by 19–70% of subjects and average sleep duration was 6.4 h. 74.8% of subjects had OSA. OSA diagnosis/severity was not associated with any sleep-related outcomes. Sleep duration was lower in subjects with all conditions (p < 0.05) except OSA. CRS was a significant risk factor for poor sleep-related QOL, sleepiness, sleep quality and insomnia; PTSD for poor sleep-related QOL and insomnia; GERD for poor sleep quality. These associations remained significant after adjustment for, age, BMI, gender, sleep duration and other comorbidities. Conclusions: Sleep complaints are common and related to several health conditions seen in WTC responders. Initial interventions in symptomatic patients with both OSA and comorbid conditions may need to be directed at sleep duration, insomnia or the comorbid condition itself, in combination with intervention for OSA.
The Role of Motor Learning on Measures of Physical Requirements and Motor Variability During Repetitive Screwing
Authors: Luger Tessy , Seibt Robert , Rieger Monika A. , Steinhilber Benjamin
Published: April 2019

We investigated whether physical requirements and motor variability decreased over days in novices during a repetitive screwing task. Fifty-seven subjects performed one hour of repetitive screwing and fastening on three days, separated by 2–7 days. The average physical requirement and relative cycle-to-cycle variability (coefficient of variation, i.e., CV) were calculated from continuous recordings of electromyography of four arm muscles (biceps brachii, triceps brachii, flexor carpi radialis, extensor digitorum), forearm acceleration, and electrocardiography. Muscle activity levels, heart rate, and forearm acceleration decreased from day 1 to day 2 (range: ~4% to ~20%) and/or 3 (range: ~4% to ~28%). Not all muscles showed a similar pattern. Activity of the extensor digitorum and biceps brachii decreased already between days 1 and 2 (range: ~6% to ~13%), whereas activity of the flexor carpi radialis and triceps brachii decreased between days 1 and 3 (range: ~13% to ~20%). No changes in physical requirement were detected between days 2 and 3. Relative motor variability did not change across days, except that variability of forearm acceleration increased from day 1 to 3 (~5%). This study found consistent changes in physical requirements and indicated that several arm muscles show earlier decreases of muscular activity, like the extensor digitorum, compared to other body parts, like the flexor carpi radialis. Moreover, movement strategies may develop differently than muscle activation strategies, based on the different developments of physical requirements and motor variability. The development of physical requirements in industrial tasks is part of daily living and starts at task onset, highlighting the importance of task familiarization and the randomization of experimental conditions in scientific studies.
An Ensemble Classifier with Case-Based Reasoning System for Identifying Internet Addiction
Authors: Hsieh Wen-Huai , Shih Dong-Her , Shih Po-Yuan , Lin Shih-Bin
Published: April 2019

Internet usage has increased dramatically in recent decades. With this growing usage trend, the negative impacts of Internet usage have also increased significantly. One recurring concern involves users with Internet addiction, whose Internet usage has become excessive and disrupted their lives. In order to detect users with Internet addiction and disabuse their inappropriate behavior early, a secure Web service-based EMBAR (ensemble classifier with case-based reasoning) system is proposed in this study. The EMBAR system monitors users in the background and can be used for Internet usage monitoring in the future. Empirical results demonstrate that our proposed ensemble classifier with case-based reasoning (CBR) in the proposed EMBAR system for identifying users with potential Internet addiction offers better performance than other classifiers.
Change-Point Analysis of Eye Movement Characteristics for Female Drivers in Anxiety
Authors: Guo Yongqing , Wang Xiaoyuan , Xu Qing , Liu Feifei , Liu Yaqi , Xia Yuanyuan
Published: April 2019

Driver hazard perception is highly related to involvement in traffic accidents, and vision is the most important sense with which we perceive risk. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the characteristics of drivers’ eye movements to promote road safety. This study focuses on analyzing the changes of drivers’ eye-movement characteristics in anxiety. We used various materials to induce drivers’ anxiety, and then conducted the real driving experiments and driving simulations to collect drivers’ eye-movement data. Then, we compared the differences between calm and anxiety on drivers’ eye-movement characteristics, in order to extract the key eye-movement features. The least squares method of change point analysis was carried out to detect the time and locations of sudden changes in eye movement characteristics. The results show that the least squares method is effective for identifying eye-movement changes of female drivers in anxiety. It was also found that changes in road environments could cause a significant increase in fixation count and fixation duration for female drivers, such as in scenes with traffic accidents or sharp curves. The findings of this study can be used to recognize unexpected events in road environment and improve the geometric design of curved roads. This study can also be used to develop active driving warning systems and intelligent human–machine interactions in vehicles. This study would be of great theoretical significance and application value for improving road traffic safety.
Differences in Eysenck’s Personality Dimensions between a Group of Breast Cancer Survivors and the General Population
Authors: García-Torres Francisco , Castillo-Mayén Rosario
Published: April 2019

Cancer may influence personality in patients and survivors. However, the possible relations between the treatments that the patients have undergone and the personality in survivors are not clear. This study aimed to establish the differences in personality between a group of breast cancer survivors and a control group, and to test the predictive utility of the treatments on the personality traits in survivors. Thirty breast cancer survivors and thirty participants from the general population completed the Eysenck personality questionnaire-revised (EPQ-R) and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Survivors had lower scores on extraversion and higher scores on neuroticism than the control group, but these differences were not significant. However, differences in psychoticism were significant, with higher scores in the survivor group. Breast-conserving therapy predicted extraversion while breast reconstruction predicted psychoticism. These results suggest that the physical consequences of surgery may lead to social and psychological impairments in this group of patients.
Industrial Odor Source Identification Based on Wind Direction and Social Participation
Authors: Eltarkawe Mohamed , Miller Shelly
Published: April 2019

Industrial odors have been a major concern in many communities in Colorado (USA). Odor source identification is important for any mitigation strategy. The aim of this work was to identify odor sources using wind direction and odor data collected by social participation. For more than one year residents reported time, date, location and description of the odor occurrence by means of a smartphone technology. The odor spatial distribution and wind roses generated from local stations were used to identify odor sources. The majority of odor reports happened in North Denver (57%) and Greeley (33%). North Denver analysis showed that a single facility that manufactures pet food was responsible for the pet food odor (the most reported odor, 81 reports). Dead animal and sewage odors were associated with a North Denver meat and grease recycling facility, and the Metro Wastewater treatment plant, respectively. Roofing tar odor was probably associated with a facility that treats crossties and utility poles with creosote. Another odor that was often described as a refinery odor was less likely to be associated with the Denver oil refinery and more likely to be associated with one of the four facilities in the northwest of Globeville that uses asphalt and creosote materials. In Greeley, most reports (133 reports) happened in LaSalle, a small town in the southern part of Greeley. All reports from LaSalle described one offensive odor that was produced by a biogas facility east of LaSalle. The feasibility of odor source identification using wind direction and social participation was demonstrated. A regional cooperation to reduce odor problems in North Denver is highly recommended.
Social Vulnerability in Patients with Multimorbidity: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Nguyen Tu N. , Ngangue Patrice , Bouhali Tarek , Ryan Bridget L. , Stewart Moira , Fortin Martin
Published: April 2019

Background: Social aspects play an important role in individual health and should be taken into consideration in the long-term care for people with multimorbidity. Purposes: To describe social vulnerability, to examine its correlation with the number of chronic conditions, and to investigate which chronic conditions were significantly associated with the most socially vulnerable state in patients with multimorbidity. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis from the baseline data of the Patient-Centred Innovations for Persons with Multimorbidity (PACEinMM) Study. Participants were patients attending primary healthcare settings in Quebec, Canada. A social vulnerability index was applied to identify social vulnerability level. The index value ranges from 0 to 1 (1 as the most vulnerable). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was calculated for the correlation between the social vulnerability index and the number of chronic conditions. Logistic regression was applied to investigate which chronic conditions were independently associated with the most socially vulnerable state. Results: There were 301 participants, mean age 61.0 ± 10.5, 53.2% female. The mean number of chronic health conditions was 5.01 ± 1.82, with the most common being hyperlipidemia (78.1%), hypertension (69.4%), and obesity (54.2%). The social vulnerability index had a median value of 0.13 (range 0.00–0.78). There was a positive correlation between the social vulnerability index and the number of chronic conditions (r = 0.24, p < 0.001). Obesity, depression/anxiety, and cardiovascular diseases were significantly associated with the most socially vulnerable patients with multimorbidity. Conclusions: There was a significant correlation between social vulnerability and the total number of chronic conditions, with depression/anxiety, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases being the most related to social vulnerability.
Empirical and Heuristic Phenomenological Case Study of the HeartMath Global Coherence Initiative
Authors: Edwards Stephen D.
Published: April 2019

Along with the creativity of vast technological advances, humanity’s endemic destructiveness continues. Planetary healing needs motivated this research. The aim was an empirical and heuristic phenomenological investigation into and an evaluation of the theoretical and technological implications of the HeartMath Global Coherence Initiative. The single case study, and limited amount of data, indicated the null hypothesis. Methodology included HeartMath Inner Balance tool and newly developed Global Coherence application (app). Data collection involved linked empirical measures and experiential journaling. Quantitative data analysis, which consisted of statistical analysis of correlations between six existing Global Coherence magnetometers and empirical measures of meditation records, from Inner Balance and Global coherence apps, respectively, yielded unexpected findings, both significant and insignificant, in the form of trends towards global and local group coherence, respectively. Qualitative findings essentially revealed variations on the, interrelated, consciousness themes of wholeness, holistic healing, energy healing and meditation. In addition to various limitations and implications, interpretation of integrative findings indicated theoretical and practical support for the HeartMath mission and vision of developing and promoting personal, social and global coherence.
High Sedentary Behaviour and Low Physical Activity are Associated with Anxiety and Depression in Myanmar and Vietnam
Authors: Pengpid Supa , Peltzer Karl
Published: April 2019

The study aimed to estimate independent and combined associations of sedentary behaviour and physical activity with anxiety and depression among chronic disease patients in Myanmar and Vietnam. The cross-sectional sample included 3201 chronic disease patients (median age 51 years, interquartile range 25) systematically recruited from primary care facilities in 2015. Sedentary time and physical activity were assessed with the General Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). Overall, the prevalence of sedentary time per day was 51.3% < 4 h, 31.2% between 4 and 8 h, and 17.5% 8 or more hours a day), and 30.7% engaged in low physical activity, 50.0% moderate, and 23.6% high physical activity. The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 12.7% and 19.9%, respectively. In the final logistic regression model, adjusted for relevant confounders, higher sedentary time (≥8 h) did not increase the odds for anxiety or depression, but moderate to high physical activity decreased the odds for anxiety and depression. Combined regression analysis found that participants with both less than eight hours of sedentary time and moderate or high physical activity had significantly lower odds of having anxiety and depression. Findings suggest an independent and combined association between moderate or high physical activity and low sedentary time with anxiety and/or depression among chronic disease patients in Myanmar and Vietnam.
Using Low-Cost Air Quality Sensor Networks to Improve the Spatial and Temporal Resolution of Concentration Maps
Authors: Ahangar Faraz Enayati , Freedman Frank R. , Venkatram Akula
Published: April 2019

We present an approach to analyzing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) data from a network of “low cost air quality monitors” (LCAQM) to obtain a finely resolved concentration map. In the approach, based on a dispersion model, we first identify the probable locations of the sources, and then estimate the magnitudes of the emissions from these sources by fitting model estimates of concentrations to corresponding measurements. The emissions are then used to estimate concentrations on a grid covering the domain of interest. The residuals between model estimates at the monitor locations and the measured concentrations are then interpolated to the grid points using Kriging. We illustrate this approach by applying it to a network of 20 LCAQMs located in the Imperial Valley of Southern California. Estimating the underlying mean concentration field with a dispersion model provides a more realistic estimate of the spatial distribution of PM2.5 concentrations than that from the Kriging observations directly.
Is “Perceived Water Insecurity” Associated with Disaster Risk Perception, Preparedness Attitudes, and Coping Ability in Rural China? (A Health-EDRM Pilot Study)
Authors: Ho Janice Ying-en , Chan Emily Ying Yang , Lam Holly Ching Yu , Yeung May Pui Shan , Wong Carol Ka Po , Yung Tony Ka Chun
Published: April 2019

Water security is essential for maintaining health and well-being, and for reducing a population’s vulnerability in a disaster. Among resource-poor villagers in China, water-related disasters and climate change may increasingly affect people’s water security. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between perceived water security and disaster risk perception in a rural ethnic minority community. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in 2015 in Xingguang village, Chongqing, China, examining the association between villagers’ perceptions of household water security, disaster risk, and sociodemographic variables. Among 52 household representatives, 84.6% relied on rainwater as their main water source and 63.5% reported having insufficient water on a regular basis. Only 32.7% perceived themselves to be living in a high-risk area, of which climate-related disasters such as storms (44.4%) and droughts (38.9%) were the most frequently reported disasters in their area. Insufficient water quantity, previous disaster experience, and household members on chronic disease medication were found to be associated with higher disaster risk perception. Perceived water security indicators were not found to be predictors of preparedness attitudes and coping ability. Addressing water sufficiency in both disaster risk reduction strategies and long-term water management will be necessary to improve the health and livelihood of rural villagers in the coming decades.
Effectiveness of Structural–Strategic Family Therapy in the Treatment of Adolescents with Mental Health Problems and Their Families
Authors: Jiménez Lucía , Hidalgo Victoria , Baena Sofía , León Antonio , Lorence Bárbara
Published: April 2019

Mental health problems during adolescence constitute a major public health concern today for both families and stakeholders. Accordingly, different family-based interventions have emerged as an effective treatment for adolescents with certain disorders. Specifically, there is evidence of the effectiveness of concrete approaches of systemic family therapy on the symptoms of adolescents and family functioning in general. However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of other relevant approaches, such as structural and strategic family therapy, incorporating parent–child or parental dyadic measurement. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a structural–strategic family therapy with adolescents involved in mental health services and their families. For this purpose, 41 parents and adolescents who participated in this treatment were interviewed at pre-test and post-test, providing information on adolescent behavior problems, parental sense of competence, parental practices, parenting alliance, and family functioning. Regardless of participants’ gender, adolescents exhibited fewer internalizing and externalizing problems after the treatment. Parents reported higher family cohesion, higher satisfaction and perceived efficacy as a parent, and healthier parental practices (less authoritarian and permissive practices, as well as more authoritative ones). An interaction effect between parenting alliance and gender was found, with more favorable results for the mothers. In conclusion, this paper provides evidence of the usefulness of structural–strategic family therapy for improving family, dyadic, and individual facets in families with adolescents exhibiting mental health problems.
Oil Film Classification Using Deep Learning-Based Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Technology
Authors: Zhu Xueyuan , Li Ying , Zhang Qiang , Liu Bingxin
Published: April 2019

Marine oil spills seriously impact the marine environment and transportation. When oil spill accidents occur, oil spill distribution information, in particular, the relative thickness of the oil film, is vital for emergency decision-making and cleaning. Hyperspectral remote sensing technology is an effective means to extract oil spill information. In this study, the concept of deep learning is introduced to the classification of oil film thickness based on hyperspectral remote sensing technology. According to the spatial and spectral characteristics, the stacked autoencoder network model based on the support vector machine is improved, enhancing the algorithm’s classification accuracy in validating data sets. A method for classifying oil film thickness using the convolutional neural network is designed and implemented to solve the problem of space homogeneity and heterogeneity. Through numerous experiments and analyses, the potential of the two proposed deep learning methods for accurately classifying hyperspectral oil spill data is verified.
Neurotensin Receptor-1 Expression in Human Prostate Cancer: A Pilot Study on Primary Tumors and Lymph Node Metastases
Authors: Morgat Clément , Chastel Adrien , Molinie Vincent , Schollhammer Romain , Macgrogan Gaétan , Vélasco Valérie , Malavaud Bernard , Fernandez Philippe , Hindié Elif
Published: April 2019

Neurotensin and its high-affinity receptor, NTR1, are involved in the growth of various tumors. Few data are available regarding NTR1 expression in normal and tumoral human prostate tissue samples. NTR1 expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry in 12 normal prostate tissues, 11 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 44 prostate cancers, and 15 related metastatic lymph nodes (one per patient, when available). NTR1-staining was negative in normal prostate and BPH samples. NTR1 was overexpressed in four out of 44 (9.1%) primary tumors. There was no clear association between NTR1 overexpression and age, PSA-values, Gleason score, pT-status, nodal-status, or margin. NTR1 was expressed at a high level of five out of 15 (33.3%) metastatic lymph nodes. NTR1 overexpression was thus more frequent in metastatic lymph nodes than in primary tumors (p = 0.038). In this limited series of samples, NTR1 overexpression was observed in few primary prostate cancers. Upregulation was more frequent in related lymph nodes. The presence of this target in metastatic lymph nodes may open new perspectives for imaging and radionuclide therapy of prostate cancer. Factors driving NTR1 expression in primary prostate cancer and in nodal and distant metastases still need to be characterized.
Precise Modeling of the Protective Effects of Quercetin against Mycotoxin via System Identification with Neural Networks
Authors: Yang Changju , Bahar Entaz , Adhikari Shyam Prasad , Kim Seo-Jeong , Kim Hyongsuk , Yoon Hyonok
Published: April 2019

Cell cytotoxicity assays, such as cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity assays, play an important role in toxicological studies of pharmaceutical compounds. However, precise modeling for cytotoxicity studies is essential for successful drug discovery. The aim of our study was to develop a computational modeling that is capable of performing precise prediction, processing, and data representation of cell cytotoxicity. For this, we investigated protective effect of quercetin against various mycotoxins (MTXs), including citrinin (CTN), patulin (PAT), and zearalenol (ZEAR) in four different human cancer cell lines (HeLa, PC-3, Hep G2, and SK-N-MC) in vitro. In addition, the protective effect of quercetin (QCT) against various MTXs was verified via modeling of their nonlinear protective functions using artificial neural networks. The protective model of QCT is built precisely via learning of sparsely measured experimental data by the artificial neural networks (ANNs). The neuromodel revealed that QCT pretreatment at doses of 7.5 to 20 μg/mL significantly attenuated MTX-induced alteration of the cell viability and the LDH activity on HeLa, PC-3, Hep G2, and SK-N-MC cell lines. It has shown that the neuromodel can be used to predict the protective effect of QCT against MTX-induced cytotoxicity for the measurement of percentage (%) of inhibition, cell viability, and LDH activity of MTXs.
Targeted Capture of Chinese Hamster Ovary Host Cell Proteins: Peptide Ligand Discovery
Authors: Lavoie R. Ashton , di Fazio Alice , Blackburn R. Kevin , Goshe Michael B. , Carbonell Ruben G. , Menegatti Stefano
Published: April 2019

The growing integration of quality-by-design (QbD) concepts in biomanufacturing calls for a detailed and quantitative knowledge of the profile of impurities and their impact on the product safety and efficacy. Particularly valuable is the determination of the residual level of host cell proteins (HCPs) secreted, together with the product of interest, by the recombinant cells utilized for production. Though often referred to as a single impurity, HCPs comprise a variety of species with diverse abundance, size, function, and composition. The clearance of these impurities is a complex issue due to their cell line to cell line, product-to-product, and batch-to-batch variations. Improvements in HCP monitoring through proteomic-based methods have led to identification of a subset of “problematic” HCPs that are particularly challenging to remove, both at the product capture and product polishing steps, and compromise product stability and safety even at trace concentrations. This paper describes the development of synthetic peptide ligands capable of capturing a broad spectrum of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) HCPs with a combination of peptide species that allow for advanced mixed-mode binding. Solid phase peptide libraries were screened for identification and characterization of peptides that capture CHO HCPs while showing minimal binding of human IgG, utilized here as a model product. Tetrameric and hexameric ligands featuring either multipolar or hydrophobic/positive amino acid compositions were found to be the most effective. Tetrameric multipolar ligands exhibited the highest targeted binding ratio (ratio of HCP clearance over IgG loss), more than double that of commercial mixed-mode and anion exchange resins utilized by industry for IgG polishing. All peptide resins tested showed preferential binding to HCPs compared to IgG, indicating potential uses in flow-through mode or weak-partitioning-mode chromatography.
Learning Improved Semantic Representations with Tree-Structured LSTM for Hashtag Recommendation: An Experimental Study
Authors: Zhu Rui , Yang Delu , Li Yang
Published: April 2019

A hashtag is a type of metadata tag used on social networks, such as Twitter and other microblogging services. Hashtags indicate the core idea of a microblog post and can help people to search for specific themes or content. However, not everyone tags their posts themselves. Therefore, the task of hashtag recommendation has received significant attention in recent years. To solve the task, a key problem is how to effectively represent the text of a microblog post in a way that its representation can be utilized for hashtag recommendation. We study two major kinds of text representation methods for hashtag recommendation, including shallow textual features and deep textual features learned by deep neural models. Most existing work tries to use deep neural networks to learn microblog post representation based on the semantic combination of words. In this paper, we propose to adopt Tree-LSTM to improve the representation by combining the syntactic structure and the semantic information of words. We conduct extensive experiments on two real world datasets. The experimental results show that deep neural models generally perform better than traditional methods. Specially, Tree-LSTM achieves significantly better results on hashtag recommendation than standard LSTM, with a 30% increase in F1-score, which indicates that it is promising to utilize syntactic structure in the task of hashtag recommendation.
Influences of Stored Product Insect Movements on Integrated Pest Management Decisions
Authors: Jian Fuji
Published: April 2019

Insect movement inside and outside grain bulks and processed products influences pest management decisions. Movement allows insects to find essential food resources, shelters (refuges), warmer and/or humid locations, mating and egg-laying sites, even when they are rare in fields, buildings, mills, warehouses, and inside grain masses. This review discussed the advantages and disadvantages of stored product insect movements, and the influence of insect mobility on some integrated pest management practices. Insect movement (1) results in clumped insect spatial distributions and thus makes large sample sizes necessary for monitoring; (2) makes trapping more efficient, but is influenced by many factors; (3) allows control methods to be effective, but requires pest management programs to be area-wide; (4) makes eradication of quarantine pests difficult and commodities are quickly re-infested; and (5) results in a diverse genetic pool and speeds the development of resistance to pesticides. Any element of an IPM approach should use the knowledge of insect movement. Reasons for the difficult interpretation of cryptic movement behaviours of insects were provided and future research areas were suggested.
Gamma Radiation Sterilization Dose of Adult Males in Asian Tiger Mosquito Pupae
Authors: Ricardo Machi Andre , Rodrigues Mayne Raquel , Adriani Gava Márcio , Bergamin Arthur Paula , Arthur Valter
Published: April 2019

The pathogen-carrying tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has spread from the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North and South America, and the Caribbean. This species of mosquito transmits arboviral infections, such as yellow fever, chikungunya, dengue, zika, and several encephalitides. The objective of this research was to provide a radiation dose inducing sterilization in adult male Ae. albopictus in the pupal stage. A cobalt-60 source of gamma radiation at a dose rate of 381 Gy/h was used. The pupae were irradiated with doses of 0 (control), 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 Gy. Each treatment had a total of five replications using 60 pupae. After irradiation, the different phases of Ae. albopictus development (egg, larva, pupa, and adult) in the F1 generation were observed daily. Parameters such as viability, fertility, longevity, and mortality were recorded. The results from these studies showed that a dose of 60 Gy was necessary to sterilize 100% of the male Ae. albopictus pupae.
Effects of Exergaming on Preschoolers’ Executive Functions and Perceived Competence: A Pilot Randomized Trial
Authors: Xiong Shanying , Zhang Peng , Gao Zan
Published: April 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a child-centered exergaming program and a traditional teacher-led physical activity (PA) program on preschoolers’ executive functions and perceived competence. Methods: Sixty children aged 4–5 years from an urban childcare center in China completed an 8-week exergaming/traditional PA intervention. After baseline measurements of executive functions and perceived competence (i.e., perceived physical competence and social acceptance), children were randomly assigned to either an exergaming group or traditional PA group (30 children per group). Exergaming and traditional PA programs were offered 20 min/session by trained instructors for 8 weeks. Post-intervention measures were identical to baseline measures. Results: In general, children’s executive functions, perceived physical competence, and perceived social acceptance were enhanced over time. Analysis of variance revealed significant time by group interaction effects for executive functions, F(1, 58) = 12.01, p = 0.01, and perceived social acceptance, F(1, 58) = 6.04, p = 0.02, indicating that the exergaming intervention group displayed significantly greater increases in executive functions and perceived social acceptance in comparison with traditional PA children. In addition, children’s executive functions and perceived physical and social competence significantly improved from baseline to post-intervention. However, there was no significant difference in the increase of children’s perceived physical competence across groups over time. Conclusion: The results suggested exergaming to be beneficial in enhancing young children’s executive functions and perceived social acceptance compared to the traditional PA program. More diverse samples with a longer intervention duration in preschool children in urban areas are warranted.
Effect of Pre-Hospital Intubation in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury on Outcome: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Choffat Caroline , Delhumeau Cecile , Fournier Nicolas , Schoettker Patrick
Published: April 2019

Secondary injuries are associated with bad outcomes in the case of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). Patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) < 9 should undergo pre-hospital intubation (PHI). There is controversy about whether PHI is beneficial. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of PHI in patients after sTBI. A multicenter, prospective cohort study was performed in Switzerland, including 832 adults with sTBI. Outcomes were death and impaired consciousness at 14 days. Associations between risk factors and outcomes were assessed with univariate and multivariate Cox models for survival, and univariate and multivariate regression models for impaired consciousness. Potential risk factors were age, GCS on scene, pupil reaction, Injury Severity Score (ISS), PHI, oxygen administration, and type of admission to trauma center. Age, GCS on scene < 9, abnormal pupil reaction and ISS ≥ 25 were associated with mortality. GCS < 9 and ISS ≥ 25 were correlated with impaired consciousness. PHI was overall not associated with short-term mortality and consciousness. However, there was a significative interaction with PHI and major trauma. PHI improves outcome from patients with sTBI and an ISS ≥ 25.
Adapting Cord Blood Collection and Banking Standard Operating Procedures for HLA-Homozygous Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Production and Banking for Clinical Application
Authors: Alvarez-Palomo Belén , Vives Joaquim , Casaroli-Marano Ricardo P. , G. Gomez Susana , Rodriguez Gómez Luciano , Edel Michael J. , Querol Giner Sergi
Published: April 2019

In this article, we will discuss the main aspects to be considered to define standard operation procedures (SOPs) for the creation of an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) bank using cord blood (CB)—or similar cell type—bank guidelines for clinical aims. To do this, we adapt the pre-existing SOP for CB banking that can be complementary for iPSCs. Some aspects of iPSC manufacturing and the particular nature of these cells call for special attention, such as the potential multiple applications of the cells, proper explanation to the donor for consent of use, the genomic stability and the risk of genetic privacy disclosure. Some aspects of the iPSC SOP are solidly established by CB banking procedures, other procedures have good consensus in the scientific and medical community, while others still need to be further debated and settled. Given the international sharing vocation of iPSC banking, there is an urgent need by scientists, clinicians and regulators internationally to harmonize standards and allow future sample interchange between many iPSC bank initiatives that are springing up worldwide.
Nucleation of the β-polymorph in Composites of Poly(propylene) and Graphene Nanoplatelets
Authors: Guerra Valentina , Wan Chaoying , McNally Tony
Published: April 2019

The effects of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on the nucleation of the β-polymorph of polypropylene (PP) were studied when melt-mixed at loadings of 0.1–5 wt % using a laboratory scale twin-screw (conical) extruder and a twin-screw (parallel) extruder with L/D = 40. At low GNP loadings (i.e., ≤0.3 wt %), the mixing efficiency of the extruder used correlated with the β-nucleating activity of GNPs for PP. GNP agglomeration at low loadings (<0.5 wt %) resulted in an increase in the β-phase fraction (Kβ) of PP, as determined from X-ray diffraction measurements, up to 37% at 0.1 wt % GNPs for composites prepared using a laboratory scale twin-screw (conical) extruder. The level of GNP dispersion and distribution was better when the composites were prepared using a 16-mm twin-screw (parallel) extruder, giving a Kβ increase of 24% upon addition of 0.1 wt % GNPs to PP. For GNP loadings >0.5 wt %, the level of GNP dispersion in PP did not influence the growth of β-crystals, where Kβ reached a value of 24%, regardless of the type of extruder used. From differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements, the addition of GNPs to PP increased the crystallization temperature (Tc) of PP by 14 °C and 10 °C for the laboratory scale extruder and 16-mm extruder, respectively, confirming the nucleation of PP by GNPs. The degree of crystallinity (Xc%) of PP increased slightly at low GNP additions (≤0.3 wt %), but then decreased with increasing GNP content.
Effect of Kinesio® Taping on Ankle Complex Motion and Stiffness and Jump Landing Time to Stabilization in Female Ballet Dancers
Authors: Botsis Aline E. , Schwarz Neil A. , Harper Megan E. , Liu Wei , Rooney Collin A. , Gurchiek Larry R. , Kovaleski John E.
Published: April 2019

Ankle sprain is the most commonly diagnosed injury experienced by ballet dancers with few studies investigating preventive support measures such as Kinesio taping. The need exists to examine the mechanical support characteristics of Kinesio taping and effect of application on ankle motion and performance. This may be important to understanding the mechanical mechanisms attributed to Kinesio ankle taping and justify its use in the prevention and treatment of jump landing injuries in ballet dancers. This study compared Kinesio taping with and without tension and no tape (control) on active and passive measures of ankle complex motion in healthy ballet dancers. A secondary objective was to examine the effect of Kinesio taping on balance using time to stabilization. Participants performed three ballet jumps with single-leg landings on a force plate across three ankle support conditions consisting of Kinesio taping, sham-Kinesio taping, and no tape. Sagittal and frontal plane motion and load-displacement of the ankle complex for each support condition were obtained using an ankle arthrometer. Kinesio taping with tension significantly restricted inversion-eversion rotation and increased inversion stiffness of the ankle complex (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found among the three ankle support conditions for jump landing time to stabilization (p > 0.05). Arthrometric results indicate Kinesio taping significantly restricted ankle complex motion in the frontal plane that is associated with lateral ankle sprain. Objective information on the nature of Kinesio taping support can assist sports medicine practitioners when recommending ankle support to athletes.
An Examination of Ironic Effects in Air-Pistol Shooting under Pressure
Authors: Gorgulu Recep
Published: April 2019

This study aimed to test the incidence of ironic performance errors in elite air-pistol shooters. Previous research has revealed that, when shooters are anxious, avoidant instructions can cause ironic performance breakdown, especially in the unintended direction. Fifty-seven experienced air-pistol shooters were given specific instructions not to shoot to a certain part of a target, under low- and high-anxiety conditions, respectively. Results demonstrated that, when instructed not to shoot in a specific direction, anxious shooters did so a significant number of times. Interestingly, there was no difference in non-target non-ironic error, which provides specific support for Wegner’s theory of ironic processes of mental control in air-pistol shooting. Consequently, these findings illustrated that the combination of increased anxiety with avoidant instructions could lead to such unintended performance errors, called ironic error. Thus, understanding the mechanism of the anxiety-performance relationship may be a useful theoretical framework which could provide practical, instruction-based interventions to reduce susceptibility to ironic errors under pressure.
Novel Approaches for Efficient Delay-Insensitive Communication
Authors: Huemer Florian , Steininger Andreas
Published: April 2019

The increasing complexity and modularity of contemporary systems, paired with increasing parameter variabilities, makes the availability of flexible and robust, yet efficient, module-level interconnections instrumental. Delay-insensitive codes are very attractive in this context. There is considerable literature on this topic that classifies delay-insensitive communication channels according to the protocols (return-to-zero versus non-return-to-zero) and with respect to the codes (constant-weight versus systematic), with each solution having its specific pros and cons. From a higher abstraction, however, these protocols and codes represent corner cases of a more comprehensive solution space, and an exploration of this space promises to yield interesting new approaches. This is exactly what we do in this paper. More specifically, we present a novel coding scheme that combines the benefits of constant-weight codes, namely simple completion detection, with those of systematic codes, namely zero-effort decoding. We elaborate an approach for composing efficient “Partially Systematic Constant Weight” codes for a given data word length. In addition, we explore cost-efficient and orphan-free implementations of completion detectors for both, as well as suitable encoders and decoders. With respect to the protocols, we investigate the use of multiple spacers in return-to-zero protocols. We show that having a choice between multiple spacers can be beneficial with respect to energy efficiency. Alternatively, the freedom to choose one of multiple spacers can be leveraged to transfer information, thus turning the original return-to-zero protocol into a (very basic version of a) non-return-to-zero protocol. Again, this intermediate solution can combine benefits from both extremes. For all proposed solutions we provide quantitative comparisons that cover the whole relevant design space. In particular, we derive coding efficiency, power efficiency, as well as area effort for pipelined and non-pipelined communication channels. This not only gives evidence for the benefits and limitations of the presented novel schemes—our hope is that this paper can serve as a reference for designers seeking an optimized delay-insensitive code/protocol/implementation for their specific application.
Migration, Youth, and Land in West Africa: Making the Connections Work for Inclusive Development
Authors: Kaag Mayke , Baltissen Gerard , Steel Griet , Lodder Anouk
Published: April 2019

This paper presents the results of a short-term research project conducted in 2017/2018 on the various ways in which migration and land dynamics in West Africa are intertwined. Contrary to much conventional (policy) thinking in the European Union (EU) today, our point of departure is not that migration is the problem to be solved – nor that (access to) land is the straightforward means to discouraging migration. Drawing on local case studies in four West African countries, this research aims to shed light on the various relationships between migration and land, and to analyze to what extent they may contribute to or obstruct (local) inclusive and sustainable development in Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Benin. In doing so, we aim to offer food for thought concerning possible ways for making the connection between migration and land more fruitful and productive for as many people as possible, especially in relation to the opportunities and constraints facing different categories of West African youth.
A Copper Oxide/Zinc Oxide Composite Nano-Surface for Use in a Biosensor
Authors: Cao Lu , Kiely Janice , Piano Martina , Luxton Richard
Published: April 2019

In this study, biosensors based on zinc oxide–copper oxide composite nano-surfaces were prepared using a simple and inexpensive distributed colloidal technique. Combinations of mixed dispersions with volume ratios of 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 ZnO:CuO were compared. The uniform nano-crystalline sensor surfaces on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Raman Spectroscopy. The ZnO–CuO composite biosensor nano-surfaces showed a significantly increased impedimetric signal compared with pure ZnO nanocrystals, and the maximum output was achieved with a volume ratio of 1:2 ZnO/CuO. The antibody capture of C-reactive protein (CRP) on the nano-surfaces was used to demonstrate the enhanced signal generated with increasing amounts of CuO in the nano-surface.
Experimental Investigations of Impact Damage Influence on Behavior of Thin-Walled Composite Beam Subjected to Pure Bending
Authors: Kubiak Tomasz , Borkowski Lukasz , Wiacek Nina
Published: April 2019

The paper deals with buckling, postbuckling, and failure of pre-damaged channel section beam subjected to pure bending. The channel section beams made of eight-layered GFRP laminate with different symmetrical layups have been considered. The specimens with initially pre-damaged web or flange were investigated to access the influence of impact damage on work of thin-walled structure in the full range of load till failure. The bending tests of initially pre-damage beams have been performed on a universal tensile machine with especially designed grips. The digital image correlation system allowing to follow the beam deflection have been employed. The experimentally obtained results are presented in graphs presenting load-deflection or load vs. angle of rotation relations and in photos presenting impact damages areas before and after bending test. The results show that the impact pre-damages have no significant influence on the work of channel section beams.
Failure Analysis of a Humeral Shaft Locking Compression Plate—Surface Investigation and Simulation by Finite Element Method
Authors: Antoniac Iulian Vasile , Stoia Dan Ioan , Ghiban Brandusa , Tecu Camelia , Miculescu Florin , Vigaru Cosmina , Saceleanu Vicentiu
Published: April 2019

A case study of a failed humeral shaft locking compression plate is presented, starting with a clinical case where failure occurred and an implant replacement was required. This study uses finite element method (FEM) in order to determine the failure modes for the clinical case. Four loading scenarios that simulate daily life activities were considered for determining the stress distribution in a humeral shaft locking compression plate (LCP). Referring to the simulation results, the failure analysis was performed on the explant. Using fracture surface investigation methods, stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a mixed mode failure was determined. An initial fatigue failure occurred followed by a sudden failure of the plate implant as a consequence of patient’s fall. The fracture morphology was mostly masked by galling; the fractured components were in a sliding contact. Using information from simulations, the loading was inferred and correlated with fracture site and surface features.
Technology to Produce High-Purity Anhydrous Rubidium Perrhenate on an Industrial Scale
Authors: Leszczyńska-Sejda Katarzyna , Benke Grzegorz , Ciszewski Mateusz , Drzazga Michał
Published: April 2019

Technology used to produce high purity anhydrous rubidium perrhenate on an industrial scale from high purity perrhenic acid and rubidium nitrate by the ion-exchange method is described in this paper. This material is dedicated to catalyst preparation, therefore, strict purity requirements have to be fulfilled. These are satisfied by combining rubidium ion sorption on an ion exchange column and the subsequent elution of the high purity perrhenic acid solution, followed by crystallization, evaporation, purification, and drying. In the current study, rubidium and rhenium contents were found to be 22.5 wt.% and 55.4 wt.%, respectively, while contaminations were as follows: <2 ppm As, <2 ppm Bi, <5 ppm Ca, <5 ppm Cu, <3 ppm Fe, <10 ppm K, <3 ppm Mg, <5 ppm Mo, <2 ppm Na, <5 ppm Pb, and <3 ppm Zn.