bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Topic tracking model for analyzing student-generated posts in SPOC discussion forums
Authors: Peng Xian , Han Chengyang , Ouyang Fan , Liu Zhi
Published: September 2020

Due to an overwhelming amount of student-generated forum posts in small private online courses (SPOCs), students and instructors find it time-consuming and challenging to effectively navigate and track valuable information, such as the evolution of topics, emotional and behavioral changes in relation to topics. For solving this problem, this study analyzed plenty of discussion posts using an improved dynamic topic model, Time Information-Emotion Behavior Model (TI-EBTM). Time, emotion, and behavior characteristics were incorporated into the topic modeling process, which allowed for an overview of automatic tracking and understanding of temporal topic changes in SPOC discussion forums. The experiment on data from 30 SPOC courses showed that TI-EBTM outperformed other dynamic topic models and was effective in extracting prominent topics over time. Furthermore, we conducted an in-depth temporal topic analysis to investigate the utility of TI-EBTM in a case study. The results of the case study demonstrated that our methodology and analysis shed light on students’ temporal focuses (i.e., the changes of topic intensity and topic content) and reflected the evolution of topics’ emotional and behavioral tendencies. For example, students tended to express more negative emotions toward the topic about the method of data query by initiating the conversation at the end of the semester. The analytical results can provide instructors with valuable insights into the development of course forums and enable them to fine-tune course forums to suit students’ requirements, which will subsequently be helpful in enhancing discussion interaction and students’ learning experience.
The impact of air pollution on the incidence and mortality of COVID-19
Authors: Karan Abhinav , Ali Kabeer , Teelucksingh Surujpal , Sakhamuri Sateesh
Published: September 2020

Air pollution is the most significant environmental risk factor for all-cause mortality, and it has caused substantial disability-adjusted life-years and economic loss. Air pollution intensified the mortality during past pandemics, Spanish flu in 1918 and SARS-CoV-1 in 2003. It increases host susceptibility and virulence of respiratory infections and reduces viral clearance. Thus, a question arises whether there will be any impact of air pollution on the current pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Thus far, history and science are directing towards an immense potential impact of air pollution on the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the devastated countries with the current pandemic are those with a poor air quality index. Further epidemiological and ecological studies are necessary to confirm this association. Also, countries must mobilize funding for mitigation of air pollution to benefit environmental health and ameliorate its potential effects on pandemics of the future.
Effect of CT imaging on the accuracy of the finite element modelling in bone
Authors: Benca Emir , Amini Morteza , Pahr Dieter H.
Published: September 2020

The finite element (FE) analysis is a highly promising tool to simulate the behaviour of bone. Skeletal FE models in clinical routine rely on the information about the geometry and bone mineral density distribution from quantitative computed tomography (CT) imaging systems. Several parameters in CT imaging have been reported to affect the accuracy of FE models. FE models of bone are exclusively developed in vitro under scanning conditions deviating from the clinical setting, resulting in variability of FE results (< 10%). Slice thickness and field of view had little effect on FE predicted bone behaviour (≤ 4%), while the reconstruction kernels showed to have a larger effect (≤ 20%). Due to large interscanner variations (≤ 20%), the translation from an experimental model into clinical reality is a critical step. Those variations are assumed to be mostly caused by different “black box” reconstruction kernels and the varying frequency of higher density voxels, representing cortical bone. Considering the low number of studies together with the significant effect of CT imaging on the finite element model outcome leading to high variability in the predicted behaviour, we propose further systematic research and validation studies, ideally preceding multicentre and longitudinal studies.
50% versus 70%: is there a difference between these BCL2 cut-offs in immunohistochemistry for diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL)?
Authors: Oliveira Cristiano Claudino , Domingues Maria Aparecida Custódio , da Cunha Isabela Werneck , Soares Fernando Augusto
Published: September 2020

Introduction

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) update of 2017 defines the cut-off for BCL2 in immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 50% of stained cells in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). The WHO’s 2017 classification, however, has no standardized value. This study analyzes associations between immunohistochemistry results for BCL2 in relation to the detection of translocations ofMYC,BCL2,andBCL6in DLBCL.

Method

Sixty-seven patients with DLBCL were evaluated using IHC, with CD20, CD10, BCL6, BCL2, MUM1, TDT and MYC, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for translocations involving theBCL2,BCL6,andMYC. Two cut-offs for BCL2 in IHC were used (50 and 70%), with the calculation of sensitivity (S), specificity (E), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), accuracy and concordance test, with a significance level of 5%.

Results

Using a 70% cut-off, there is a good relationship between S (88.9%, IC95% = 68.4–109.4) and E (67.2, 95% CI = 55.2–79.3), with a high NPV (97.5, 95% CI = 92.7–102.3) and statistically significant agreement (K = 0.30,p = 0.02). Using a 50% cut-off, S and NPV increase to 100%, with a specificity of 39.7% (95% CI = 27.1–52.2) and a statistically significant concordance (K = 0.15,p = 0.017).

Conclusion

Reduction in the percentage of immunostaining increases the detection of DLBCL with a “double-expressor” immunophenotype. The lower criterion amplifies the S and the NPV of IHC to detect translocations involving the BCL2 gene, with an impact on the diagnosis of DLBCL “double expressor”, an unfavorable prognostic group.
Chronic low back pain and sick-leave: a functional magnetic resonance study
Authors: Feitosa Aloma A. , Amaro Junior Edson , Sanches Liana Guerra , Borba Eduardo Ferreira , Jorge Liliana Lourenço , Halpern Ari Stiel Radu
Published: September 2020

Background

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) represents a problem in the occupational environment, often associated with disability, sick-leave demands, loss of productivity, anxiety, depression and high socioeconomic cost. The emergence of functional neuroimaging allowed new insights into brain structure and physiology in normality and chronic pain. While occupational related aspects are recognized as important risk factors for chronicity there have not been thus far evaluated by fMRI experiments. The overall objective of this study is to compare the neuronal correlates between groups of individuals CLBP with or without sick-leave demands.

Methods

A total of 74 individuals were divided into three groups: chronic low back pain with sick-leave demands [CLBP_L]; chronic low back pain without sick-leave demands [CLBP_NL]; individuals without pain or sick-leave demands [Control]. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess brain function during moderate acute pain stimulation task (thumb controlled pressure).

Results

After acute painful stimulation, a higher brain response was found in the anterior cingulate and superior and medium frontal gyrus was observed in CLBP_NL vs. CLBP_L (p <  0,001) and increased brain response in the frontal pole and paracingulate region in control vs. CLBP_L (p <  0.001) during acute pain stimulation.

Conclusion

The modulation of acute pain participates in the mechanism propagating chronic pain perception. The lower activation in the superior frontal gyrus observed in the CLBP_L group compared to CLBP_NL, reinforces the idea of an already existing activation in this area.
Using Framing as a Lens to Understand Context Effects on Expert Reasoning
Authors: Slominski Tara , Fugleberg Andrew , Christensen Warren M. , Buncher John B. , Momsen Jennifer L.
Published: September 2020

Biologists frame fluid dynamics problems differently from physicists and engineers, which may have consequences for instruction and learning.
Footstep detection in urban seismic data with a convolutional neural network
Authors: Jakkampudi Srikanth , Shen Junzhu , Li Weichen , Dev Ayush , Zhu Tieyuan , Martin Eileen R.
Published: September 2020

Seismic data for studying the near surface have historically been extremely sparse in cities, limiting our ability to understand small-scale processes, locate small-scale geohazards, and develop earthquake hazard microzonation at the scale of buildings. In recent years, distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology has enabled the use of existing underground telecommunications fibers as dense seismic arrays, requiring little manual labor or energy to maintain. At the Fiber-Optic foR Environmental SEnsEing array under Pennsylvania State University, we detected weak slow-moving signals in pedestrian-only areas of campus. These signals were clear in the 1 to 5 Hz range. We verified that they were caused by footsteps. As part of a broader scheme to remove and obscure these footsteps in the data, we developed a convolutional neural network to detect them automatically. We created a data set of more than 4000 windows of data labeled with or without footsteps for this development process. We describe improvements to the data input and architecture, leading to approximately 84% accuracy on the test data. Performance of the network was better for individual walkers and worse when there were multiple walkers. We believe the privacy concerns of individual walkers are likely to be highest priority. Community buy-in will be required for these technologies to be deployed at a larger scale. Hence, we should continue to proactively develop the tools to ensure city residents are comfortable with all geophysical data that may be acquired.
Memorial
Authors: Checa Jaime
Published: September 2020

Hector Alfredo Alfonso Acero received his civil engineering degree from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in 1987. In 1988, as he began eyeing the labor market, he was attracted by an opportunity offered by Ecopetrol where young professionals from various disciplines were invited to participate in a scientific training program in collaboration with the Colorado School of Mines. After a stringent selection process, he was admitted to a program that would convert him into a geophysical exploration expert. There he began a 30-year career that would lead him to be an authority on geophysics for the Colombian National Oil Company.
Increased Burden of Rare Sequence Variants in GnRH-Associated Genes in Women With Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
Authors: Delaney Angela , Burkholder Adam B , Lavender Christopher A , Plummer Lacey , Mericq Veronica , Merino Paulina M , Quinton Richard , Lewis Katie L , Meader Brooke N , Albano Alessandro , Shaw Natalie D , Welt Corrine K , Martin Kathryn A , Seminara Stephanie B , Biesecker Leslie G , Bailey-Wilson Joan E , Hall Janet E
Published: September 2020

Context

Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) is a common, acquired form of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism that occurs in the setting of energy deficits and/or stress. Variability in individual susceptibility to these stressors, HA heritability, and previous identification of several rare sequence variants (RSVs) in genes associated with the rare disorder, isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH), in individuals with HA suggest a possible genetic contribution to HA susceptibility.

Objective

We sought to determine whether the burden of RSVs in IHH-related genes is greater in women with HA than controls.

Design

We compared patients with HA to control women.

Setting

The study was conducted at secondary referral centers.

Patients and Other Participants

Women with HA (n = 106) and control women (ClinSeq study; n = 468).

Interventions

We performed exome sequencing in all patients and controls.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

The frequency of RSVs in 53 IHH-associated genes was determined using rare variant burden and association tests.

Results

RSVs were overrepresented in women with HA compared with controls (P = .007). Seventy-eight heterozygous RSVs in 33 genes were identified in 58 women with HA (36.8% of alleles) compared to 255 RSVs in 41 genes among 200 control women (27.2%).

Conclusions

Women with HA are enriched for RSVs in genes that cause IHH, suggesting that variation in genes associated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal ontogeny and function may be a major determinant of individual susceptibility to developing HA in the face of diet, exercise, and/or stress.
First Trimester DEX Treatment Is Not Associated with Altered Brain Activity During Working Memory Performance in Adults
Authors: van’t Westeinde Annelies , Zimmermann Marius , Messina Valeria , Karlsson Leif , Padilla Nelly , Lajic Svetlana
Published: September 2020

Context

Prenatal dexamethasone (DEX) treatment is sometimes used in pregnancies at risk for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) to prevent virilization in female fetuses with CAH. In boys and in fetuses not having CAH, there is no benefit of early DEX treatment and the risks of this therapy must be thoroughly investigated. High doses of prenatal glucocorticoid might alter the developmental trajectory of the brain into adulthood, even for CAH unaffected subjects treated with DEX for a short term during the first trimester.

Objective

The present study investigated brain activation during working memory performance in DEX-treated subjects compared with controls.

Design, Setting, and Participants

We tested 18 participants who were exposed to DEX during the first trimester of fetal life but did not have CAH (8 females; mean age 20.78 [standard deviation (SD), 2.67] years) and 40 control participants (24 females; mean age 20.53 [SD, 2.64]) from a single research institute. Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging on a 3T scanner during a verbal and visuospatial working memory task.

Results

We did not observe any differences in brain activity during working memory performance. However, DEX-treated subjects responded faster during the experimental condition of the verbal WM task.

Conclusions

First trimester DEX treatment did not seem to result in altered working memory–related brain activity at adult age. Our findings contribute to the risk–benefit assessment of prenatal DEX treatment in the context of CAH.
Race, Ancestry, and Vitamin D Metabolism: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Hsu Simon , Hoofnagle Andrew N , Gupta Deepak K , Gutierrez Orlando M , Peralta Carmen A , Shea Steven , Allen Norrina B , Burke Gregory , Michos Erin D , Ix Joachim H , Siscovick David , Psaty Bruce M , Watson Karol E , Kestenbaum Bryan , de Boer Ian H , Robinson-Cohen Cassianne
Published: September 2020

Context

A comprehensive characterization of racial/ethnic variations in vitamin D metabolism markers may improve our understanding of differences in bone and mineral homeostasis and the risk of vitamin D–related diseases.

Objective

Describe racial/ethnic differences in vitamin D metabolism markers and their associations with genetic ancestry.

Design, Setting, Participants

In a cross-sectional study within the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), we compared a comprehensive panel of vitamin D metabolism markers across self-reported racial/ethnic groups of Black (N = 1759), White (N = 2507), Chinese (N = 788), and Hispanic (N = 1411). We evaluated associations of proportion African and European ancestry with this panel of markers in Black and Hispanic participants using ancestry informative markers. Latent class analysis evaluated associations between patterns of vitamin D measurements with race/ethnicity.

Results

Compared with Black participants, White participants had significantly higher serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and fibroblast growth factor-23; lower concentrations of parathyroid hormone and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D; circulating vitamin D metabolite ratios suggesting lower CYP27B1 and higher CYP24A1 activity; higher urinary concentrations of calcium and phosphorus with higher urinary fractional excretion of phosphorus; and differences in vitamin D binding globulin haplotypes. Higher percent European ancestry was associated with higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D and lower parathyroid hormone concentrations among Black and Hispanic participants. Latent classes defined by vitamin D measurements reflected these patterns and differed significantly by race/ethnicity and ancestry.

Conclusions

Markers of vitamin D metabolism vary significantly by race/ethnicity, may serve to maintain bone and mineral homeostasis across ranges of 25-hydroxyvitamin D production, and be attributable, at least partly, to genetic ancestry.
Vacuolar escape of foodborne bacterial pathogens
Authors: Bianchi Frans , van den Bogaart Geert
Published: September 2020

The intracellular pathogensListeria monocytogenes,Salmonella enterica,Shigellaspp. andStaphylococcus aureusare major causes of foodborne illnesses. Following the ingestion of contaminated food or beverages, pathogens can invade epithelial cells, immune cells and other cell types. Pathogens survive and proliferate intracellularly via two main strategies. First, the pathogens can remain in membrane-bound vacuoles and tailor organellar trafficking to evade host-cell defenses and gain access to nutrients. Second, pathogens can rupture the vacuolar membrane and proliferate within the nutrient-rich cytosol of the host cell. Although this virulence strategy of vacuolar escape is well known forL. monocytogenesandShigellaspp., it has recently become clear thatS. aureusandSalmonellaspp. also gain access to the cytosol, and that this is important for their survival and growth. In this Review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of how these intracellular pathogens rupture the vacuolar membrane by secreting a combination of proteins that lyse the membranes or that remodel the lipids of the vacuolar membrane, such as phospholipases. In addition, we also propose that oxidation of the vacuolar membrane also contributes to cytosolic pathogen escape. Understanding these escape mechanisms could aid in the identification of new therapeutic approaches to combat foodborne pathogens.
An Estimated Structural Model of Entrepreneurial Behavior
Authors: Jones John Bailey , Pratap Sangeeta
Published: September 2020

Using a rich panel of owner-operated New York dairy farms, we provide new evidence on entrepreneurial behavior. We formulate a dynamic model of farms facing uninsured risks and financial constraints. Farmers derive nonpecuniary benefits from operating their businesses. We estimate the model via simulated minimum distance, matching both production and financial data. We find that financial factors and nonpecuniary benefits are of first-order importance. Collateral constraints and liquidity restrictions inhibit borrowing and the accumulation of capital, especially among high-productivity firms seeking to expand. The nonpecuniary benefits to farming are large and keep small, low-productivity farms in business. Although farmers are risk averse, eliminating uninsured production risk has only modest effects on capital and output. (JEL C51, D24, G32, Q12, Q14)
Ultimatum Bargaining with Rational Inattention
Authors: Ravid Doron
Published: September 2020

A seller bargains with a rationally inattentive buyer (Sims 2003) over a good of random quality. After observing quality, the seller makes a take-it-or-leave-it offer. The buyer pays attention to the seller’s product and offer at a cost proportional to expected entropy reduction. Because attention is free off-path, multiple equilibria emerge, many of which are efficient. A trembling-hand-like refinement (Selten 1975) rules out efficiency, delivering complete disagreement when attention is expensive and a unique equilibrium with trade when attention is cheap. In this equilibrium, the buyer overpays for low-quality goods, underpays for high-quality goods, and earns a strictly positive payoff. (JEL C78, D82, D83, D86, L15)
Job Matching under Constraints
Authors: Kojima Fuhito , Sun Ning , Yu Ning Neil
Published: September 2020

Studying job matching in a Kelso-Crawford framework, we consider arbitrary constraints imposed on sets of doctors that a hospital can hire. We characterize all constraints that preserve the substitutes condition (for all revenue functions that satisfy the substitutes condition), a critical condition on hospitals’ revenue functions for well-behaved competitive equilibria. A constraint preserves the substitutes condition if and only if it is a “generalized interval constraint,” which specifies the minimum and maximum numbers of hired doctors, forces some hires, and forbids others. Additionally, “generalized polyhedral constraints” are precisely those that preserve the substitutes condition for all “group separable” revenue functions. (JEL C78, D47, I11, J23, J41, J44)
Sex Differences in Ground Reaction Force Profiles of Ballet Dancers During Single- and Double-Leg Landing Tasks
Authors: Arnwine Rachael A. , Powell Douglas W.
Published: September 2020

It is well known that sex differences exist in landing biomechanics in athletes, and these differences are purported to underlie a prevalence of traumatic knee injuries in females compared to males. However, it remains unknown if these differences also apply to artistic athletes such
as dancers. The purpose of this study was to investigate sex differences in ground reaction forces (GRFs) between male and female dancers during single- and double-leg dance-specific landing movements. Fourteen pre-professional and professional ballet dancers (seven female and seven male)
performed grand jeté (single-leg landing) and sauté (double-leg landing) jumps onto two force platforms. Visual3D was used to calculate the resulting GRF time-series, and MAT-LAB to select discrete variables of interest including peak vertical GRF, loading rate, landing duration,
and vertical impulse. Paired t-tests were used to compare mean GRF variables between male and female dancers. During single-leg landing male dancers had smaller peak vertical GRFs (p < 0.01), greater time-to-peak GRF (p = 0.03), and smaller loading rates (p < 0.01) than female dancers.
No differences were observed in vertical impulse during single-leg landing or in any variables during double-leg landing. These results indicate that sex differences in landing GRFs are most evident in single-leg landing and may underlie divergent injury rates in male and female dancers. Further
investigation of relevant lower extremity biomechanics during single- and double-leg landing in male and female dancers should be conducted to identify the mechanisms underlying these distinct GRF profiles.
Recommendations and Alerting for Delirium Alleviation in Real-Time (RADAR): Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Vlisides Phillip E. , Ragheb Jacqueline W. , Leis Aleda , Schoettinger Amanda , Hickey Kim , McKinney Amy , Brooks Joseph , Zierau Mackenzie , Norcott Alexandra , Yang Shirley , Avidan Michael S. , Min Lillian
Published: September 2020

Background: Delirium is a common and serious complication of major surgery for older adults. Postoperative social and behavioral support (e.g., early mobilization, mealtime assistance) may reduce the incidence and impact of delirium, and these efforts are possible with proactive patient-care programs. This pilot trial tests the hypothesis that a multicomponent decision support system, which sends automated alerts and recommendations to patient-care programs and family members for high-risk patients, will improve the postoperative environment for neurocognitive and clinical recovery.

Methods: This will be a randomized, controlled, factorial pilot trial at a large academic medical center. High-risk, non-cardiac surgery patients (≥70 years old) will be recruited. Patients will be allocated to a usual care group (n=15), Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)-based paging system (n=15), family-based paging system (n=15), or combined HELP- and family-based system (n=15). The primary outcome will be the presence of delirium, defined by positive long-form Confusion Assessment Method screening. Secondary outcomes will include additional HELP- and family-based performance metrics along with various neurocognitive and clinical recovery measures. Exploratory outcomes include the incidence of positive family-based delirium assessments post-discharge, 36-item Short Form Survey, PROMIS Cognitive Function Abilities Subset 4a, and 30-day readmission rates.

Ethics and dissemination: This trial has received approval by the University of Michigan Medical Institutional Review Board (IRBMED). Dissemination plans include presentation at scientific conferences, publication in medical journals, and distribution via educational and news media.

Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04007523, registered on 7/3/2019.
Case Report: Incidentally diagnosed hemangioma of the right atrioventricular groove in an athlete
Authors: Asma Achour , Maatouk Mezri , Miladi Ahmed , Mahjoub Marouane , Abdelali Mabrouk , Hmida Badii , Zrig Ahmed , Ben Massoud Mejdi , Mnari Walid
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this article is to illustrate a rare case of a pericardial hemangioma of the right atrioventricular groove of incidental discovery in a tennis player who presented with cough and dyspnea and was treated by surgical excision with a favorable outcome. We also report the role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and management of this pericardial tumor.
The Market for Audit Services: Year 2019
Authors: Guttsayt E. , Mar'yasin Anton
Published: September 2020

Th e article sets out the methodology and results of constructing time series of the main indicators of the market for audit services in the interval 2004-2019. A strong market decline has been shown and quantified since 2008. The dynamics of the average fees for audits in the context of small, medium and large audit organizations in the interval 2010-2019 was studied and it was illustrated a huge decrease in these fees in the indicated interval. It was revealed that in recent years, revenues from audits of socially significant organizations have fallen sharply, while revenues from audits of other economic entities behave differently.
Value of Aggregators
Authors: Akca Selin , Rao Anita
Published: September 2020

Aggregators are facing increased scrutiny by regulatory authorities, suggesting these sites have considerable market power. On the other extreme, firms are bypassing aggregators, choosing instead to sell directly to consumers. This raises the question as to which party has more market power: the aggregator or the individual firm. Focusing on the airline industry, we investigate who benefits most in the airline-aggregator relationship. Specifically, we ask what would happen to airline and aggregator site visits and purchases in the absence of a comprehensive aggregator. We first explore consumers’ search patterns on Southwest, an airline that has never been part of any aggregator. In a descriptive exercise, we find that consumers who book on Southwest are the least likely to visit aggregator sites. Second, we use the 2011 American dispute with Orbitz as an exogenous event, which led to American fares no longer being displayed on Orbitz for five months. We use this dispute to identify who was hurt the most—the aggregator or the airline—in the months following the dispute. Our findings indicate the aggregator loses the most when it is not comprehensive.
Maintaining Natural Capital Stocks: An Insight into Traditional and Modern Approaches
Authors: Sen Gupta Subhasree
Published: September 2020

Natural capital refers to the natural environment around us that provides the goods and services to sustain life on this globe and includes soil, air, water, plant and animal biomass, forests, fish populations and mineral deposits. Sustainability could be defined as the level of consumption that satisfies the demand of the present without compromising the need of the future generations and not demeaning natural capital stocks. A serious threat to the current framing of natural capital is its apparent seclusion from financial capital and mainstream economic and social activity. This seclusion leads to indiscriminate use of nitrogen fertiliser to increase productivity per unit area in crop fields or decreased protein returns in aquatic habitats ultimately leading to ecological mayhem. However, indigenous people living in traditional societies are found to have strong conservation ethics arising out of their age-old ecological knowledge, protecting natural capital in their native homeland. The sacred groves in India, Tukano Indians in North West Brazil, tribesmen in TransFly region in Papua New Guinea, Masai in African Savanna are some of the examples. This article highlights some of the novel approaches adapted to protect natural capital and includes Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) and natural capital accounting. PES are evolving as a creative and motivational strategy for natural capital conservation in many parts of the world, especially in Latin America. The natural capital accounting assign monetary value to natural capital and could bridge the apparent seclusion of natural capital from financial capital. The national Governments and world leaders are taking a broader perspective to look into the options of sustainable development to maintain natural capital stocks and many such projects are put forth in different countries. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and Sustainable Development Goals lead to a system of largescale management called the Ecosystem Approach involving multiple stakeholders. The primary goal is protecting ecosystem components and processes for the long term, keeping an eye to the present needs also. The PES and natural capital accounting are two important gauge of sustainability protecting mother nature from indiscriminate handling by its most rational offspring.
Biodiversity Assessment of Balapur Pond of District Prayagraj (U.P.) with Special Reference to Vertebrates and Angiosperms
Authors: Verma Ashok Kumar
Published: September 2020

The present study was undertaken to record the diversity of Balapur pond of the Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh with special reference to vertebrates and angiosperms. The Balapur pond was surveyed in detail once in a month for a period of one year from January 2018 to December 2018. The survey reflects a rich and flourishing biodiversity of the pond studied including 40 chordate species and 38 species of angiosperms. The notable chordate diversity includes 12 species of fishes, 2 species of amphibians, 7 species of reptiles, 11 species of birds and 8 species of mammals. Besides, several species of annelids, crabs, butterflies, moths, grasshoppers, ants, termites, lobsters, snails, other gastropods, planktons, algae, bryophytes and pteridophytes have also been observed.
The effects of storytelling in the promotion of physical activity for chronically ill patients: an integrative review
Authors: Byrne Charlotte , Soundy Andy
Published: September 2020

Background/Aims

Physical activity is regarded as an essential component of self-management for people with chronic illness. Storytelling is an approach that successfully uses a group environment to influence change in physical activity intentions and behaviours. The aim of this study was to develop an understanding of what a storytelling intervention entails, its main effects and how this leads to the promotion of physical activity in chronically ill patients.

Methods

An integrative review was undertaken in three stages: search, appraisal and synthesis. Studies were included if they represented participants with a chronic illness, used a storytelling approach for the intervention and had physical activity as a component of the intervention.

Results

A total of 14 articles were identified that included a total of 818 participants (191 male, 348 female, 279 unknown). No articles were identified as flawed and all were included in the synthesis. Four themes were identified: ideal processes within interventions; psychosocial factors that influenced storytelling; perceived outcomes relating to storytelling; and perceived benefits of physical activity.

Conclusions

This review develops a deeper understanding of the required processes, associated factors and outcomes of storytelling interventions for people with chronic illness. It provides evidence of how storytelling can be used to promote physical activity. Further research into storytelling interventions is required.
Misconceptions in Rate of Reaction and their Impact on Misconceptions in Chemical Equilibrium
Authors: Jusniar Jusniar , Effendy Effendy , Budiasih Endang , Sutrisno Sutrisno
Published: September 2020

Descriptive correlational research was conducted to discover misconceptions on Rate of Reaction (RR) that impact on Chemical Equilibrium (CE) misconceptions. This research was conducted to 245 eleventh-grade students of High School in Gowa, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, that have been studied the RR and CE topics. Misconceptions data were collected using three-tier tests and semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive and correlational analysis. Description of RR misconceptions that impact on CE misconceptions are determined with the percentage of students who consistently experience misconceptions about RR and CE. There were six misconceptions in RR that have an impact on CE, which are: Misconceptions related to changes in the reaction rate with time; The effect of temperature on the rate of reaction; The effect of adding catalysts to the activation energy; and the mathematical affect relating to the rate of reaction and number of moles. Misconceptions in RR and CE have 0.39 correlation coefficient, based on Spearman's formula. These results indicate that the impact of misconception in RR on CE is moderate. This study suggests that education practitioners should eliminate the misconception of prerequisite concepts before teaching the next related concepts.
Refugee Children from the point of School Administrators and Teachers’ Experiences
Authors: Serin Huseyin , Bozdag Faruk
Published: September 2020

In the present study, perceptions of Turkish school administrators and teachers towards Syrian refugee children were examined through metaphors. 71 school administrators and 242 teachers from 27 different provinces of Turkey participated in the study. As a result of the study, the metaphors produced by school administrators were grouped into four categories: “child with cultural adaptation and belonging problems”, “fragile and needy child”, “child who is no different from other children” and “problematic child”. The metaphors produced by teachers were grouped into six categories: “child with cultural adaptation and belonging problems”, “child who is no different from other children”, “fragile and needy child”, “problematic child”, “child who can reveal her/his potential with interest” and “compatible child”. Participants' perceptions of refugee children were not related to gender but there was a significant relationship between professional seniority and the number of refugee children at school. Although school administrators and teachers have positive perceptions about refugee children, their negative perceptions are largely due to the lack of professional experience and the high number of students at school. Providing vocational support to teachers and administrators, planning the number of students in schools, and providing resources to schools will improve positive perceptions about refugee children.
Wastepreneurship: A Model in Improving Students’ Confidence and Creativity
Authors: Nizaar Muhammad , Sukirno Sukirno , Djukri Djukri , Haifaturrahmah Haifaturrahmah
Published: September 2020

Skill in processing waste is an essential attitude needed in daily life because environmental pollution issue is one of the important parts that are learned in science subject. It is required students’ self-confidence and creativity in processing waste into a useful product. This research aims to improve students’ confidence and creativity through science wastepreneurship learning model. This research used experimental posttest-only design with nonequivalent groups design. Total of the samples were 140 students who were divided into experiment group (n = 75) and control group (n = 65). Statistic data analysis was carried out through Two-way ANOVA in significance level of 0.05. This research showed that the self-confidence and creativity of students on posttest finding in experiment group is higher than control group. It can be concluded that science wastepreneurship learning model was effective in improving students’ confidence and creativity in processing waste. Therefore, science wastepreneurship learning model is suggested to be more often used by the teachers in Junior High School.
New species of termite Pseudocapritermes kunjepu Mathew sp. nov. (Blattodea: Termitidae: Termitinae) from India

Authors: IPE CHINNU , AMINA POOVOLI , JOSEPH EDWIN , VIJAYAN SAJITHMON , MATHEW JOBIN
Published: September 2020

The genus Pseudocapritermes Kemner, 1934, endemic to Oriental region is represented by 18 species. A new species, Pseudocapritermes kunjepu Mathew sp. nov. (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae), is described from Kerala, India, based on the characters of soldiers and workers. Morphological measurements of the soldiers and workers are given with suitable illustrations. A revised key to the species of Pseudocapritermes (based on soldier caste) found in India along with the species distribution map are also provided. Key words: Isoptera, new species, Pseudocapritermes, Termitidae
The importance of plasmin for the healing of the anterior cruciate ligament
Authors: Bakirci Ezgi , Tschan Karin , May Rahel D. , Ahmad Sufian S. , Kleer Barbara , Gantenbein Benjamin
Published: September 2020

Aims

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is known to have a poor wound healing capacity, whereas other ligaments outside of the knee joint capsule such as the medial collateral ligament (MCL) apparently heal more easily. Plasmin has been identified as a major component in the synovial fluid that varies among patients. The aim of this study was to test whether plasmin, a component of synovial fluid, could be a main factor responsible for the poor wound healing capacity of the ACL.

Methods

The effects of increasing concentrations of plasmin (0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 50 µg/ml) onto the wound closing speed (WCS) of primary ACL-derived ligamentocytes (ACL-LCs) were tested using wound scratch assay and time-lapse phase-contrast microscopy. Additionally, relative expression changes (quantitative PCR (qPCR)) of major LC-relevant genes and catabolic genes were investigated. The positive controls were 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).

Results

WCS did not differ significantly among no plasmin versus each of the tested concentrations (six donors). The positive controls with PDGF and with FCS differed significantly from the negative controls. However, we found a trend demonstrating that higher plasmin concentrations up-regulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 ( MMP13), 3 ( MMP3), and tenomodulin ( TNMD).

Conclusion

The clinical relevance of this study is the possibility that it is not solely the plasmin, but also additional factors in the synovial fluid of the knee, that may be responsible for the poor healing capacity of the ACL. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(9):543–553.
Knife before wife
Authors: Keogh Kenneth
Published: September 2020

Take two teaspoons of kindness and invest in your wellbeing.
How other professions cope with burnout
Authors: Winter G
Published: September 2020

As burnout doesn't discriminate, George Winter explores what surgeons can learn from those in academia, aviation and the clergy.
Why do I do what I do?
Authors: Cresswell J
Published: September 2020

Vice-President of BAUS and consultant urologist, Jo Cresswell, reflects on the love she has for her specialty and explains why there's no room for exaggerated self-importance.
Work related musculoskeletal pain in general surgical trainees: extent of the problem and strategies for injury prevention
Authors: Chambers A , Gill N
Published: September 2020

Recognising and tackling physical stressors at an individual and organisational level.
The future of breast surgery training in the UK
Authors: Weston-Petrides G , Baker BG , Summers DM
Published: September 2020

Three perspectives, one aim: how can we reshape the design of breast training to support best surgical practice?
Modelling and Analysis Library Development for Helicopter Blade and Slender Wings
Authors: AHN Sang Ho , JANG Jun Hwan
Published: September 2020

In this study, we suggest a framework for optimal design of a composite wing structure with a high aspect ratio at the initial design stage. The optimization framework calculates allowances in the first ply failure, buckling failure and bearing-bypass failure, which are frequent failure modes in the wing structure, using the laminate pattern database built up through past design experiences, and optimizes the weight of the wing structure within the range of the economic minimal safety margin. In order to verify the optimization framework, finite element analysis for the wing structure of an unmanned air vehicle was configured. Subsequently, static analysis and stability analysis were performed to verify robustness and reliability of the optimization framework by entering the composite material laminate data created from the optimization framework into the finite element model of the wing of an unmanned air vehicle. The optimization framework suggested in this study is an automated algorithm that can carry out sizing of various shapes composed of composite material from the concept design stage, and thus reduce the revised and repeated design time.
The effect of the obstacle on the hydraulic response of the composite hydraulic structure
Authors: QASIM Rafi M. , ABDULHUSSEIN Ihsan A. , MOHAMMED Alya A. , MAATOOQ Qusay A.
Published: September 2020

Experimental investigations are carried out to study the physics of the flow that passes weir-gate hydraulic structure and encounters obstruction with or without installation of downstream opening. This study approaches the comparison between two different options; the first option deals with free flow condition while the second option deals with submerged flow condition. Various cases are performed considering different hydraulics variables and dimensions variables to evaluate the existence of obstruction with or without openings. Overall the flow pattern is more sensitive to the presence of obstruction at downstream region than in its absence. The hydraulic variables that are considered in the study are divided into dimensional variables such as discharge, downstream flow velocity and water depths at downstream and non-dimensional variables such as discharge coefficient, Froude number and Reynolds number. The obstacles which are used in this study have variable heights with constant width and length. Constant spacing between the obstacles is adopted. Different arrangements of obstacles are considered in this study and it is found that a significant and reasonable result is different among the cases. The effect of rectangular opening in the obstruction on flow pattern is studied. The effect of obstacles with rectangular opening gives a noticeable result in the assessment of the discharge coefficient of the composite hydraulic structure.
Design of Satellite Attitude Control Systems using Adaptive Neural Networks
Authors: RAJA M. , SINGH Kartikay , SINGH Aishwerya , GUPTA Ayush
Published: September 2020

This paper investigates the performance of adaptive neural networks through simulations for satellite systems involving three-axis attitude control algorithms. PID tuning is the method employed traditionally. An optimally tuned, to minimizes the deviation from set point. It also responds quickly to the disturbances with some minimal overshoot. However, the disadvantage of poor performance has been observed in these controllers when manual tuning is used which in itself a monotonous process is. The PID controller using Ziegler-Nichols has more transient responses of satellite such as Overshoot, Settling time, and Steady state errors. For overcome this technique, the proposed analysis implemented an Adaptive Neural Network with PID tuning. The paper aims to combine two feedback methods by using neural networks. These methods are feed- forward and error feedback adaptive control. The research work is expected to reveal the inside working of these neural network controllers for state and error feedback input states. An error driven adaptive control systems is produced, when the neural networks acquire the knowledge of slopes and gains regarding the error feedback, while, with state feedback the system will keep trying to approximate a stable approach in order to stabilize the attitude of the satellite.
Fabrication and Investigation of Al2024-B4c-Tic Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites using Laser Beam Machining
Authors: SURESH KUMAR S. , NAIR Anish , MUTHU KUMAR G. Praveen , MUTHU KRISHNAN V. , RAMESH KANNA M.
Published: September 2020

The use of unconventional machining technique for Aluminum based Metal Matrix Composites [MMCs] are generated considerable interest in machining. In the aviation industry, in order to obtain a high precision, a good surface finishing and high working speed, the processing of these hard materials is done with the help of the fiber beam laser). The objective is to determine the mechanical properties of the hybrid composite and further investigate its machinability. The aerospace industry uses the laser machining for its machining process like drilling the cooling holes etc. Standard frequency and variation in other parameters such as pulse width, power, and time will occur the impact in the laser beams composites like diameter and roundness of the hole. Especially, the increase in the variation of power and time plays a vital role in the diameter and roundness of the hole.
Structured Contact Turbulence versus Corona virus Pandemic
Authors: DUMITRESCU Horia , CARDOS Vladimir , BOGATEANU Radu
Published: September 2020

We are going to present a relativistic approach on the origin of turbulence as a structured contact organization of wall-bounded flows gendered by their starting in the case of easily deformable bodies, that is, fluids. But, the rapid changes of dramatic events related to this corona virus pandemic, involving three evolution phases that is onset, growth and extinction, showing a high similarity with the development of wall-bounded flow by flowing fluid when the Reynolds number exceeds a critical value of log Re = 6, make us focus on such a rapid event of shock type, herein called a demographic shock. Therefore, the goal of the present paper is to describe the main phases of this unhappy event using a hydrodynamic model along with a Gaian natural self-regulation process.