bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cutaneous melanoma in patients from western Mexico: Clinical pathology characteristics and their relationship to prognosis
Authors: Pérez‐Aldrete Berenice Monserratt , Matildes‐Mariscal Jessica Berenice , Gómez‐Padilla Frania , Guevara‐Gutiérrez Elizabeth , Barrientos‐García Juan Gabriel , Hernández‐Peralta Sarah Lizette , Tlacuilo‐Parra Alberto
Published: April 2019

Background/Objective

Melanoma is the third most frequent malignant neoplasm in skin. The majority of information available comes from studies performed in Caucasian populations. Our objective was to investigate the clinico‐pathological characteristics in Mexican patients with cutaneous melanoma and the relationship these characteristics had to prognosis.

Methods

A retrospective study included patients with a histopathological diagnosis of melanoma who were attended at a tertiary level Dermatology Institute over a 10‐year period. Age, gender, anatomical location; histopathological subtype, Breslow thickness, Clark level; presence of ulceration, metastasis, anatomical–pathological stage and survival were investigated. To assess the data, descriptive statistics, chi‐squared or the Fisher exact test and Kaplan–Meier curves were used.

Results

There were 323 patients included. The overall survival rate was 77% with an average follow‐up of 7 years. The lowest survival was statistically related to the following: higher age (>65 years), localisation in palms/soles, histopathological nodular subtype, presence of ulceration, Breslow thickness >4.0 mm, Clark level V, the presence of metastasis and stage IV disease.

Conclusions

Our results relay the characteristics and prognosis of patients with the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma in western Mexico.
Correlations between mitochondrial respiration activity and residual feed intake after divergent genetic selection for high‐ and low‐ oxygen consumption in mice
Authors: Darhan Hongyu , Zoda Atsushi , Kikusato Motoi , Toyomizu Masaaki , Katoh Kazuo , Roh Sang‐gun , Ogawa Shinichiro , Uemoto Yoshinobu , Satoh Masahiro , Suzuki Keiichi
Published: April 2019

The aims of the present study were to identify the differences between two mouse lines (high (H)‐ and low (L)‐oxygen consumption) in terms of mitochondrial respiratory activity when GMP (glutamate, malate, and pyruvate) and succinic acid are used as substrates and to examine the relationship between mitochondrial respiration activity and feed efficiency in both lines. The average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and residual feed intake (RFI) were significantly higher in the H than the L line. The correlation between FCR and RFI was significant (r = 0.60, p < 0.05). RFI was effective as an indicator of feed efficiency. When succinic acid was used as a substrate, mitochondrial respiration states 2–4, ACR, and proton leak were significantly higher in the H than the L line. When GMP was used as a substrate, respiration states 3 and 4 in the H line were significantly higher than those in the L line, and there were significant positive correlations between FCR and RFI and mitochondrial respiration states 2–4. The results indicated that selection for high or low OC changed the basal metabolic rates estimated from liver mitochondrial respiration activity and feed efficiency.
The Trump Administration’s One‐China Policy: Tilting toward Taiwan in an Era of U.S.‐PRC Rivalry?
Authors: Chen Dean P.
Published: April 2019

Since 1979, while U.S. congressional members have consistently tried to stepup support for Taiwan, American presidents, irrespective of Republicans or Democrats, have acted circumspectly to follow the U.S. One‐China policy, lest more obtrusive backing of the island would heighten Chinese nationalism and damage Sino‐American relationship. The Donald Trump administration’s greater tilt toward Taipei suggests a growing convergence between the executive and legislative branches in elevating U.S.‐Taiwan ties. Though Trump’s fickle styles have generated unpredictability, his administration team has strived to keep a steady stance on Washington’s relations with Beijing and Taipei. The U.S. One‐China policy is creative and elastic, which could be constricted or stretched, depending on the changing strategic circumstances and the needs of American national security. The United States has an interest to enlarge the scope and depth of cooperation with Taipei in the Indo‐Pacific region to cope with a more powerful and assertive PRC.
The home visit in child protection social work: Emotion as resource and risk for professional judgement and practice
Authors: Cook Laura L.
Published: April 2019

This article conceptualises the role of emotion in social work home visits. It draws on findings from a qualitative study of initial child protection home visits in the United Kingdom. The research used narrative interviews and focus groups to examine how emotions arising from visits were registered in social workers' narratives. These visits were often challenging; social workers needed to manage their own emotions and those of the family, while at the same time investigating concerns and assessing need. This article identifies seven key emotional experiences associated with the home visit from the perspective of the social worker: going into the unknown; being intrusive; being disliked; fear of harm to self; fear of causing or allowing harm; pain, disgust, and distress; and “absorbing” emotion. It is argued that emotion plays a central role in home visiting and that professionals' emotional responses have important implications for the way they make sense of, and manage, home visits. Emotion is therefore conceptualized as both a potential resource and risk for social workers' professional judgement and practice.
Efficient Parcel Delivery by Predicting Customers’ Locations*
Authors: Praet Stiene , Martens David
Published: April 2019

An important aspect of the growing e‐commerce sector involves the delivery of tangible goods to the end customer, the so‐called last mile. This final stage of the logistics chain remains highly inefficient due to the problem of failed deliveries. To address this problem, delivery service providers can apply data science to determine the optimal, customer‐centered location and time window for handover. In this article, we present a three‐step approach for location prediction, based on mobile location data, in order to support delivery planning. The first step is identifying a user's locations of interest through density‐based clustering. Next, the semantics (home or work) of the user's locations of interest are discovered, based on temporal assumptions. Finally, we predict future locations with a decision tree model that is trained on each user's historical location data. Though the problem of location prediction is not new, this work is the first to apply it to the field of parcel delivery with its corresponding implications. Moreover, we provide a novel and detailed evaluation on real‐world data from a parcel delivery service. The promising results indicate that our approach has the potential to help delivery service providers to gain insights into their customers’ optimal delivery time and location in order to support delivery planning. Eventually this will decrease last‐mile delivery costs and boost customer satisfaction.
Protect Our Children: Vaccination Exemptions Can Establish Child Abuse and Neglect
Authors: Ramirez Kathleen
Published: April 2019

The need to protect public health has increased as the anti‐vaccine movement is on the rise. Exemptions to vaccination requirements have become more lax, and parents find ways to avoid vaccinating their children, thereby exposing not only their children to the dangers of serious diseases, but other children as well. This Note proposes a federal statute mandating that parents subject their children between the ages of infancy and 6 to acquire vaccinations for all diseases recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unless a licensed physician recommends otherwise.
Parental Battlefield: Divorcing Parents and the Treatment of Children with ADHD
Authors: Trazzera Liza J.
Published: April 2019

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) typically manifests as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity among children, resulting in stimulant drug therapy. Children exposed to high‐stress situations, such as divorcing parents, are twice as likely to present with ADHD symptoms. Often these symptoms are a result of the stress and not truly ADHD. Additionally, parents in conflict frequently disagree about the appropriate diagnosis and treatment for their child, which leads to court disputes. Thus, this Note proposes a policy be implemented setting forth alternatives that must be exhausted for a period of time prior to administering stimulants to a child of divorce.
Ceramic molds suitable for rapid forming of CFRP composites via microwave irradiation
Authors: Shimamoto Daisuke , Sato Kimiyasu , Sugimoto Yoshiki , Hotta Yuji
Published: April 2019

Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites have been considered quite eminent structural materials. For more extensive applications, however, more rapid forming methods of the CFRP composites are required. As for CFRP composites with thermoplastic matrices, microwave heating and pressing with ceramic molds should be promising. In the present work, zirconia molds with varied thermal conductivity were employed to give a desired shape to the CFRP composites heated with microwave irradiation. Experimental results showed that use of the zirconia molds with smaller thermal conductivity results in shorter necessary time for the forming process. Mechanism of the notable change in the heating efficiency is discussed as well.
89Sr‐doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles as a potential therapeutic agent for bone tumors
Authors: de Rezende Michele R. , Andrade Gracielle F. , Cipreste Marcelo F. , Miranda Marcelo C. , Gomes Dawidson A. , de Barros Correia Menezes Maria Â. , de Sousa Edésia M. B.
Published: April 2019

Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles have been studied due to their high biocompatibility, similarity with bone tissue, and their capacity for bone regeneration since these nanoparticles can easily adhere on osteosarcoma and osteoblast cells, promoting osteoblast growth and osteosarcoma cell uptake. These materials may still accumulate spontaneously and selectively in regions of bone tumors through the enhanced permeability and retention effect. HA also allows the incorporation of strontium in your network. Strontium as a biochemical analog of calcium can maintain the osteogenesis characteristics of HA allowing the production of the radioactive isotopes strontium‐89 and phosphorus‐32 through neutron irradiation. These radioisotopes are beta emitters that enable the treatment of bone tumors, while the affected region is regenerated. In this work, we investigated the synthesis of strontium‐doped HA nanorods through the hydrothermal coprecipitation method as a potential therapeutic agent for bone tumors. All materials were successfully obtained and demonstrated high cell viability, maintaining the osteogenic capacity, making these materials promising agents for the specific treatment of bone tumors. The results indicate that the Sr provides an increase in therapeutic potential due to its beta emission.
The diagnostic ability of high‐fluorescent cells combined with carcinoembryonic antigen for malignant pleural effusion
Authors: Wu Wenjing , Zhao Chedong , Shen Tao , Tong Xiaoning , Chen Wei
Published: April 2019

Introduction

High‐fluorescent cells (HFCs) that are detected with an automated hematology analyzer may be useful for the detection of tumor cells; however, the diagnostic ability of HFCs for differentiating malignant pleural effusion is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of the combined detection of HFCs with the tumor marker carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) for the identification of malignant hydrothorax.

Methods

A total of 115 pleural effusions were collected. HFCs, including the relative counts (HF‐BF%) and absolute counts (HF‐BF#), were analyzed using the BF mode of a Sysmex XN9000 hematology analyzer. Simultaneously, the CEA level from the same patient was measured by an electrochemiluminescence method. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of HFCs separately or combined with CEA analysis for malignant diseases.

Results

The levels of HF‐BF#, HF‐BF%, and CEA in the malignant effusion group were significantly higher than those in the benign control group. The diagnostic value of the HF‐BF# and HF‐BF% for malignant pleural effusion was low to moderate, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.663 and 0.715, respectively. The CEA detection showed a moderate diagnostic ability, and the AUC was 0.832. The AUC for the combined methods was 0.860 and 0.890, respectively. The cutoff levels of the HF‐BF#, HF‐BF%, and CEA levels were 29.5 × 106/L, 5.6/100 WBC, and 4.795 ng/mL, respectively.

Conclusions

The combined detection of high‐fluorescent cells with the BF mode and CEA testing may be a good indication for malignancy.
The Urological Association of Asia clinical guideline for urinary stone disease
Authors: Taguchi Kazumi , Cho Sung Yong , Ng Anthony CF , Usawachintachit Manint , Tan Yung‐Khan , Deng Yao Liang , Shen Cheng‐Huang , Gyawali Prem , Alenezi Husain , Basiri Abbas , Bou Sopheap , Djojodemedjo Tarmono , Sarica Kemal , Shi Lei , Singam Praveen , Singh Shrawan Kumar , Yasui Takahiro
Published: April 2019

The Urological Association of Asia, consisting of 25 member associations and one affiliated member since its foundation in 1990, has planned to develop Asian guidelines for all urological fields. The field of stone diseases is the third of its guideline projects. Because of the different climates, and social, economic and ethnic environments, the clinical practice for urinary stone diseases widely varies among the Asian countries. The committee members of the Urological Association of Asia on the clinical guidelines for urinary stone disease carried out a surveillance study to better understand the diversity of the treatment strategy among different regions and subsequent systematic literature review through PubMed and MEDLINE database between 1966 and 2017. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendation for each management were decided according to the relevant strategy. Each clinical question and answer were thoroughly reviewed and discussed by all committee members and their colleagues, with suggestions from expert representatives of the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology. However, we focused on the pragmatic care of patients and our own evidence throughout Asia, which included recent surgical trends, such as miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy and endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery. This guideline covers all fields of stone diseases, from etiology to recurrence prevention. Here, we present a short summary of the first version of the guideline – consisting 43 clinical questions – and overview its key practical issues.
Factors influencing fear of cancer recurrence in patients with breast cancer: Evidence from a survey in Yancheng, China
Authors: Niu Lishu , Liang Yongchun , Niu Meie
Published: April 2019

Aim

To identify the characteristics of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) in breast cancer patients after surgery and investigate the relationship of FCR with demographic and medical characteristics, quality of life (QOL) and social support.

Methods

The short version of the Fear of Progression Questionnaire (FoP‐Q‐SF), the functional assessment of cancer therapy for breast cancer (FACT‐B) and the Social Support Rating Scale were administered to the 342 breast cancer patients who had undergone surgical treatment. The analysis was performed to determine potential predictors associated with FCR.

Results

Of the 465 patients, 342 (73.5%) agreed to take part in the study. The mean age of participants was 51.46 ± 10.50 years (range, 30–81). Of the 342 participants, 92 (26.9%) cases were at Stage I, 131 (38.3%) cases at Stage II, 34 (9.9%) patients at Stage III and 85 (24.9%) patients at Stage IV. Among the 12 items of the FoP‐Q‐SF, the three greatest fears were: Item 10 ‘Worrying that medications could damage the body’, Item 1 ‘Being afraid of disease progression’ and Item 2 ‘Being nervous prior to doctors’ appointments or periodic examinations’. About 68.4% of patients reported the dysfunctional level of fear of progression. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that religious belief, family income, disease stages, social support, QOL were identified as independent predictors for FCR.

Conclusion

We found that FCR is prevalent in postoperative breast cancer patients, and is influenced by many factors. It is necessary to implement positive intervention measures to alleviate the FCR and improve the QOL of patients.
Effect of School Services on Academic Performance After Traumatic Brain Injury in Hispanic and Non‐Hispanic Students
Authors: Jimenez Nathalia , Virtue Alyssa , Segar Karen , Stoep Ann Vander , Rivara Frederick P.
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND

School reintegration after traumatic brain injuries (TBI) requires school support; however, implementation of services is complex. This study evaluates disparities in receipt of school services for Hispanic children and its effect on academic performance.

METHODS

Secondary analyses of school data on receipt of pre‐ and post‐TBI school services. A logistic regression compared receipt of services between Hispanic and non‐Hispanic white (NHW) children, and a linear regression evaluated services' effect on academic performance.

RESULTS

The study includes 419 children; 46 Hispanic, 373 NHW. For NHW children there were no differences in receipt of pre‐ and post‐TBI services; Hispanic children had significant increase in receipt of services from 5% to 27% (p < .001). Compared to NHWs, Hispanics had lower grade point average (GPA) at baseline (2.3 [confidence interval, CI: 1.9‐2.7] vs 2.9 [CI: 2.8‐3.0]). No differences in GPA were found between groups after injury among students who received post‐TBI services.

CONCLUSIONS

Students who receive post‐TBI school services benefit academically. NHW students maintain their academic performance and Hispanics increase their performance to their NHW peers' level. This highlights the importance of providing post‐TBI school services to ensure better outcomes for all children.
Natural: A $75 billion word with no definition—Why not?
Authors: Chambers Edgar , Tran Thao , Chambers Edgar
Published: April 2019

Natural is a $75 billion word with no official definition in most countries. The United States Food and Drug Administration has given only an unclear guideline on what constitutes natural instead of an actual definition. Sensory and other scientists need to understand the motivations and attitudes of consumers about the products they use. “Natural” is a commonly used term on labels and advertising for food and other products. This research examined 30 ingredients used in food products to determine which ingredients consumers considered natural and why they consider certain ingredients as “not natural.” A national U.S. survey of 1,051 consumers (primary food purchases: 43% male, 57% female) was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi‐squared tests. No ingredient, except for sea salt, was found to be natural by more than 70% of respondents. Familiarity with an ingredient was instrumental in consumers' determination of naturalness. Healthfulness and chemical sounding names also played a role in whether a product or ingredient was considered natural or not. “Natural” is not a single concept and, thus, is difficult to define.

Practical applications

Understanding how consumers make decisions about whether a food is “natural” or not is key to understanding how new products are formulated and then perceived by consumers. This study identifies several major issues associated with food ingredients making food seem “not natural.” Most of the issues are associated with a lack of understanding or knowledge or the perception that healthfulness drives naturalness (e.g., if I think it is “healthy” to eat, then it must be natural. The information will better help sensory and other scientists understand perception of their products in a time of consumer confusion.
Applying temporal check‐all‐that‐apply (TCATA) to mouthfeel and texture properties of red wines
Authors: Kemp Belinda , Trussler Steven , Willwerth James , Inglis Debra
Published: April 2019

Temporal check‐all‐that‐apply (TCATA) has been used to characterize wines on a nonspecific basis using a range of attributes to investigate sensory differences between wines. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether TCATA, when focused on specific modalities, could distinguish red wines made from the same grape variety, according to mouthfeel and texture descriptors only. Two trained panels evaluated three wines, made from three grape varieties. A combined training approach that used tactile touch standards together with wine sensory evaluation was used to identify mouthfeel and texture sensations. Panelists identified four sensations relevant to all wines: grippy, fine, coarse, and astringent. Differences between wines produced from the same varieties were found for Pinot noir and Cabernet franc but not Cabernet sauvignon. Our results indicate that TCATA is a reliable technique to discriminate red wines according to their mouthfeel and texture profiles during consumption.

Practical applications

This study investigated the ability of the temporal check‐all‐that‐apply (TCATA) sensory method to distinguish between red wines made from the same grape variety based on mouthfeel and texture properties only. Results from the present work show that TCATA could be used to identify differences in monovarietal wines made from different winemaking techniques.
Bacillus subtilis B21 and Bacillus licheniformis B26 improve intestinal health and performance of broiler chickens with Clostridium perfringens‐induced necrotic enteritis
Authors: Musa Bello Bodinga , Duan Yongle , Khawar Hayat , Sun Qingzhu , Ren Zhouzheng , Elsiddig Mohamed Mohamed Abdalla , Abbasi Imtiaz Hussain Raja , Yang Xiaojun
Published: April 2019

This study investigated the influence of Bacillus‐based probiotics on performance and intestinal health in broiler challenged with Clostridium perfringens‐induced necrotic enteritis. One‐day‐old Arbor Acre (n = 480) were randomly assigned to four treatments with 10 cages of 12 birds: (a) basal diet negative control (NC), with no probiotics nor antibiotics formulated to contain 2,930 and 3,060 kcal/kg with 24.07 and 15.98% CP, for starter and finisher diet, respectively, (b) basal diet + enramycin (5 mg/kg), an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP); (c) basal diet + Bacillus subtilis B21 at 2 × 109 CFU per g (BS); (d) basal diet + Bacillus licheniformis B26 at 2 × 109 CFU per g (BL); growth performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal lesion scores, short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and mucosal barrier tight junction's (TJ) mRNA expression were assessed. NC‐ and BL‐fed groups showed higher (p = 0.005) average daily feed intake from d1 to d21 than AGP and BS, whereas BS‐ and AGP‐fed groups showed higher average daily weight gain from d22 to d42 and d1 to d42 of age. Higher mortality rate of (12.5%) and lower of (5.5%) were recorded in AGP and NC fed‐groups respectively, lesion score was higher in BS and BL than in AGP, while no lesion was observed in NC group, results revealed higher duodenum and jejunum villus height to crypt depth (VH:CD) compared with NC and BS. Probiotics‐fed groups showed higher total (SCFAs), acetic and butyric acid concentrations at d21 post‐challenge (PC) than other groups. The expression of claudin‐1 was upregulated in duodenum (d7) PC and in jejunum (d7) and (d21) PC in BL group, while at d21 PC, the expression of occludens was higher in jejunum and ileum by AGP and BL. The present study indicated both BS and BL have some similarity with AGP in preventing or partially preventing NE effect in broilers.
Using an eddy‐resolving technique to assess the effects of reservoir operation on the bend flow in Yangtze River, China
Authors: Li Jian , Hao Wang , Zhou Yanchen , Chao Nengfang
Published: April 2019

With increasing computing power over the last decade, eddy‐resolving methods in hydraulics engineering have been widely used to investigate the turbulence structure in natural rivers, where accurate field measurements were difficult to conduct and investigate. A detached eddy simulation (DES) model was developed on the basis of the k‐ω‐SST (shear stress transport) eddy‐viscosity model within the framework of an unstructured‐mesh Semi‐implicit Eulerian–Lagrangian Finite Element (SELFE) hydrodynamic model. The DES model was then applied to simulate the bend flow in the upper Yangtze River, and the calculation efficiency was enhanced through parallelized computation to mitigate the high computation costs involved in the DES modelling. The time‐averaged velocity, turbulent intensity and Reynolds stress were compared, using DES modelling and acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measuring results, indicating good agreement, especially in the near‐bed region. The coupled relationship between the turbulent flow and riverbed terrain was also investigated through extracting and analysing the high‐order statistical variables reflecting the turbulence structure, including non‐hydrostatic pressure, vorticity and helicity, indicating the fluctuated amplitude of non‐hydrostatic pressure can reach to 100 Pa, and the stripe distribution of non‐hydrostatic pressure and vorticity had an orthogonality relation. At the same time, the streamwise velocity at the middle of the HLM bend was found to be decreased at least 0.7 m/s because of unsteady process smoothing and backwater effects attributable to water releases and storage of the reservoirs located upstream and downstream of the HLM bend. The developed unstructured‐mesh DES model will provide a new tool to study turbulent flows in a natural river and assess the effect of reservoir operations on river flows.
Karyotype and genome size variation in Ajuga L. (Ajugoideae–Lamiaceae)
Authors: Choi Bokyung , Yang Sungyu , Song Jun‐Ho , Jang Tae‐Soo
Published: April 2019

Chromosome number changes and karyotype evolution play an important role in plant genome diversification and eventually in speciation. The genus Ajuga L. (Lamiaceae) has approximately 50 species distributed in temperate to subtropical regions. Four of these species are currently recognized in Korea (A. decumbens Thunb., A. multiflora Bunge, A. nipponensis Makino and A. spectabilis Nakai). Understanding the karyotype evolution in Ajuga has been hampered by the small size of their chromosomes and symmetrical karyotypes. Here we used classic Feulgen staining to establish chromosome numbers and construct karyotypes of the four species of Ajuga recognized in Korea and flow cytometry was used to study their variation in genome. The chromosome number of all investigated plants was 2n = 32. Still, the 2C DNA content ranged from 2.18 pg (A. decumbens) to 4.53 pg (A. multiflora). While the chromosome numbers were the same for all investigated species, the genome size variation could potentially be used as a taxonomic marker.
Soil carbonate drives local adaptation in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Terés Joana , Busoms Silvia , Perez Martín Laura , Luís‐Villarroya Adrián , Flis Paulina , Álvarez‐Fernández Ana , Tolrà Roser , Salt David E. , Poschenrieder Charlotte
Published: April 2019

High soil carbonate limits crop performance especially in semiarid or arid climates. To understand how plants adapt to such soils, we explored natural variation in tolerance to soil carbonate in small local populations (demes) of Arabidopsis thaliana growing on soils differing in carbonate content. Reciprocal field‐based transplants on soils with elevated carbonate (+C) and without carbonate (−C) over several years revealed that demes native to (+C) soils showed higher fitness than those native to (−C) soils when both were grown together on carbonate‐rich soil. This supports the role of soil carbonate as a driving factor for local adaptation. Analyses of contrasting demes revealed key mechanisms associated with these fitness differences. Under controlled conditions, plants from the tolerant deme A1(+C) native to (+C) soil were more resistant to both elevated carbonate and iron deficiency than plants from the sensitive T6(−C) deme native to (−C) soil. Resistance of A1(+C) to elevated carbonate was associated with higher root extrusion of both protons and coumarin‐type phenolics. Tolerant A1(+C) also had better Ca‐exclusion than sensitive T6(−C). We conclude that Arabidopsis demes are locally adapted in their native habitat to soils with moderately elevated carbonate. This adaptation is associated with both enhanced iron acquisition and calcium exclusion.
Four Questions of Iterated Grounding
Authors: Kovacs David Mark
Published: April 2019

The Question of Iterated Grounding (QIG) asks what grounds the grounding facts. Although the question received a lot of attention in the past few years, it is usually discussed independently of another important issue: the connection between metaphysical explanation and the relation or relations that supposedly “back” it. I will show that once we get clear on the distinction between metaphysical explanation and the relation(s) backing it, we can distinguish no fewer than four questions lumped underQIG. I will also argue that given some plausible assumptions about what it would take for a relation to back metaphysical explanation, many salient views about grounding allow us to give “easy” answers to these questions—easy in the sense that we can straightforwardly derive them from the respective conception of grounding without getting into the sorts of complexities that typically inform answers toQIG. The paper's main upshot is that we cannot expect to make much progress onQIGwithout first addressing the difficult issue of how exactly grounding is related to metaphysical explanation.
Weathering the Storm: Social Policy and the Great Recession
Authors: Maks‐Solomon Cory , Stoker Robert P.
Published: April 2019

This review discusses recent challenges to the welfare state arising from the Great Recession (GR). The GR was a significant event for social policy analysts, as it tested the responsiveness of welfare systems in the midst of a recent trend toward austerity politics in advanced economies. Social policy changes were part of the toolkit advanced democracies used to respond to the GR, and the welfare state mitigated the consequences of the GR. However, a stark limitation of the social safety net in the United States was the failure to assist immigrant households. The nexus of immigration and social policy is likely to be a significant controversy as we consider the meaning of social citizenship.
Understanding the Field of Public Affairs through the Lens of Ranked Ph.D. Programs in the United States
Authors: Zuo Zhiya , Qian Haifeng , Zhao Kang
Published: April 2019

The goal of this article is to understand the multidisciplinary field of public affairs. Based on data and text mining on the profiles and publications of all faculty members from a list of research‐oriented U.S. public affairs programs, we describe the landscape of public affairs schools and scholars, identify 15 topics in public affairs research and discuss their trends of change between 1986 and 2015, and show the clustering and hiring networks of public affairs schools. Our results suggest a broader approach to understanding the field of public affairs than the public administration focus in the literature. Although public administration is highly visible in the field, which is evidenced by the journals most favored by public affair scholars, various specific policy areas (such as health, social, urban, environmental, global, and education policies) show strong representations based on our topical analysis of public affairs research.
Multiple Partial Couplings in the Multiple Streams Framework: The Case of Extreme Weather and Climate Change Adaptation
Authors: Dolan Dana A.
Published: April 2019

In this paper, I draw insights from a detailed case study of adaptation policymaking to develop a novel interpretation of John Kingdon's original work that shows how policy entrepreneurs can couple the problem, policy, and political streams through multiple partial couplings. Researchers and policymakers often assume that extreme weather opens a window to adopt policies aimed at adapting to long‐term climate change. However, empirical evidence shows that crises can redirect attention to urgent, short‐term goals. Using the Multiple Streams lens in an abductive case study, I investigate how these competing forces interact to influence the policy process. By unpacking Kingdon's familiar “streams” metaphor and elaborating his overlooked concept of partial couplings, I illustrate how the policy entrepreneurs' strategy of issue linking explains Australia's adoption of the 2007 Water Act, one of the world's first major adaptation policies, at the height of its decade‐long Millennium Drought. Employing this novel theoretical understanding offers new insights into this important case. I conclude by developing tentative hypotheses for testing in future studies.
Bivariate exponentiated‐exponential geometric regression model
Authors: Famoye Felix
Published: April 2019

A bivariate exponentiated‐exponential geometric regression model that allows negative, zero, or positive correlation is defined and studied. The model can accommodate under‐ or over‐dispersed count data. The regression model is based on the univariate exponentiated‐exponential geometric distribution, and the marginal means of the bivariate model are functions of the explanatory variables. The parameters of the bivariate regression model are estimated by using the maximum likelihood method. Some test statistics including goodness of fit are discussed. A simulation study is conducted to compare the model with the bivariate generalized Poisson regression model. One numerical data set is used to illustrate the application of the regression model.
Survey of instructor and student impressions of a high‐fidelity model in canine ovariohysterectomy surgical training
Authors: Au Yong Jo Anne , Case J. Brad , Kim Stanley E. , Verpaalen Valentine D. , McConkey Marina J.
Published: April 2019

Objective

To evaluate the usefulness of a high‐fidelity model for teaching ovariohysterectomy (OHE) to veterinary students.

Study design

Longitudinal survey.

Sample population

Clinicians with ≥2 years postgraduate experience in small animal surgery and a sophomore veterinary student population at 1 institution.

Methods

Twelve clinicians evaluated the high‐fidelity model for realism. Questionnaires were distributed to sophomore veterinary students prior to and after OHE training on the high‐fidelity model (SynDaver Surgical Canine) and after performing OHE as primary surgeon with a live dog. Time for students to perform OHE (identify the first ovarian pedicle to transecting the uterine body) and number of technical errors (visceral injury, hemorrhage, loose ligatures) were compared between the model and live dog groups.

Results

Evaluators rated the high‐fidelity model as moderate‐to‐highly realistic. Students' confidence improved after practicing on the model in all critical steps and additionally improved after performing an OHE on a live dog. Time to complete the OHE on the model (mean ± SD,73.4 ± 27.1 minutes) and live dogs (83.0 ± 24.7 minutes) did not differ (P = .20). Frequency of hemorrhagic events (P =.77) and accidental visceral injury (P =.30) did not differ between the model and live dogs. However, fewer loose ligatures were placed in live dogs (23/64) compared with the model (22/37;P =.02).

Conclusion

The high‐fidelity model improved the confidence of sophomore students. The duration of OHE did not differ between the model and live dogs.

Clinical impact

The high‐fidelity model is valuable for improving confidence in veterinary students prior to live‐dog OHE.
Compact Patch MIMO Antenna With Low Mutual Coupling For WLAN Applications
Authors: Aminu-Baba Murtala , A. Rahim Mohammad Kamal , Zubir Farid , Y. Iliyasu Adamu , Mohd Yusoff Mohd Fairus , Jahun K. I. , Ayop Osman
Published: April 2019

A compact triband microstrip patch MIMO antenna is proposed for WLAN applications. The antenna consists of two patches antenna elements, which are orthogonally placed to each other for high isolation at 2.4, 2.8 and 5.8 GHz frequency bands. On its ground plane, a Complementary Split Ring Resonators (CSRRs) is etched for size reduction and multiband generation. The proposed compact MIMO antenna covers an entire size of 58 x 45 x 1.6 mm3, with the patch size of 13.3 x 17.1 mm2. A 79% size reduction at 2.45 GHz was achieved for miniaturization, with a very low mutual coupling (S21 and S12) of -32 dB at all bands.
Bioenergetic basis for the increased fatigability with ageing
Authors: Sundberg Christopher W. , Prost Robert W. , Fitts Robert H. , Hunter Sandra K.
Published: April 2019

Key points

The mechanisms for the age‐related increase in fatigability during dynamic exercise remain elusive.

We tested whether age‐related impairments in muscle oxidative capacity would result in a greater accumulation of fatigue causing metabolites, inorganic phosphate (Pi), hydrogen (H+) and diprotonated phosphate (H2PO4−), in the muscle of old compared to young adults during a dynamic knee extension exercise.

The age‐related increase in fatigability (reduction in mechanical power) of the knee extensors was closely associated with a greater accumulation of metabolites within the working muscle but could not be explained by age‐related differences in muscle oxidative capacity.

These data suggest that the increased fatigability in old adults during dynamic exercise is primarily determined by age‐related impairments in skeletal muscle bioenergetics that result in a greater accumulation of metabolites.

The present study aimed to determine whether the increased fatigability in old adults during dynamic exercise is associated with age‐related differences in skeletal muscle bioenergetics. Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to quantify concentrations of high‐energy phosphates and pH in the knee extensors of seven young (22.7 ± 1.2 years; six women) and eight old adults (76.4 ± 6.0 years; seven women). Muscle oxidative capacity was measured from the phosphocreatine (PCr) recovery kinetics following a 24 s maximal voluntary isometric contraction. The fatiguing exercise consisted of 120 maximal velocity contractions (one contraction per 2 s) against a load equivalent to 20% of the maximal voluntary isometric contraction. The PCr recovery kinetics did not differ between young and old adults (0.023 ± 0.007 s−1 vs. 0.019 ± 0.004 s−1, respectively). Fatigability (reductions in mechanical power) of the knee extensors was ∼1.8‐fold greater with age and was accompanied by a greater decrease in pH (young = 6.73 ± 0.09, old = 6.61 ± 0.04) and increases in concentrations of inorganic phosphate, [Pi], (young = 22.7 ± 4.8 mm, old = 32.3 ± 3.6 mm) and diprotonated phosphate, [H2PO4−], (young = 11.7 ± 3.6 mm, old = 18.6 ± 2.1 mm) at the end of the exercise in old compared to young adults. The age‐related increase in power loss during the fatiguing exercise was strongly associated with intracellular pH (r = –0.837), [Pi] (r = 0.917) and [H2PO4−] (r = 0.930) at the end of the exercise. These data suggest that the age‐related increase in fatigability during dynamic exercise has a bioenergetic basis and is explained by an increased accumulation of metabolites within the muscle.
Síndrome de Brown-Séquard desde su descubrimiento
Authors: Botero Rodríguez Felipe , Acevedo González Juan Carlos
Published: April 2019

Charles-Edouard Brown-Séquard (1817-1894) fue un importante científico reconocido por sus investigaciones realizadas sobre la médula espinal. Nació en la isla de Mauricio, adquirió un gusto por la literatura, incluso para partir a París con 20 años junto con su madre para convertirse en escritor, al fracasar en este sueño, inició su carrera de medicina, destacándose por sus descubrimientos en la fisiología de la médula espinal, ampliamente descritos en su tesis de grado en 1846 y posteriormente en 1855 cuando acuñó el síndrome con su nombre. Sus estudios incluyeron las áreas de epilepsia, control simpático en el mecanismo vasomotor, redes interneuronales y endocrinología. Este artículo resalta los aportes de este genio y explica la historia del síndrome con su nombre, además expone el análisis del artículo original publicado en 1855 que ha inspirado numerosos estudios posteriores.
Generalized Solution for Two-Dimensional Transient Heat Conduction Problems With Partial Heating Near a Corner
Authors: McMasters Robert L. , de Monte Filippo , Beck James V.
Published: April 2019

A generalized solution for a two-dimensional (2D) transient heat conduction problem with a partial-heating boundary condition in rectangular coordinates is developed. The solution accommodates three kinds of boundary conditions: prescribed temperature, prescribed heat flux and convective. Also, the possibility of combining prescribed heat flux and convective heating/cooling on the same boundary is addressed. The means of dealing with these conditions involves adjusting the convection coefficient. Large convective coefficients such as 1010 effectively produce a prescribed-temperature boundary condition and small ones such as 10−10 produce an insulated boundary condition. This paper also presents three different methods to develop the computationally difficult steady-state component of the solution, as separation of variables (SOV) can be less efficient at the heated surface and another method (non-SOV) is more efficient there. Then, the use of the complementary transient part of the solution at early times is presented as a unique way to compute the steady-state solution. The solution method builds upon previous work done in generating analytical solutions in 2D problems with partial heating. But the generalized solution proposed here contains the possibility of hundreds or even thousands of individual solutions. An indexed numbering system is used in order to highlight these individual solutions. Heating along a variable length on the nonhomogeneous boundary is featured as part of the geometry and examples of the solution output are included in the results.
Determination of the Drop Size During Air-Blast Atomization
Authors: Lee T.-W. , Park J. E.
Published: April 2019

We have used the integral form of the conservation equations, to find a cubic formula for the drop size during in liquid sprays in coflow of air (air-blast atomization). Similar to our previous work, the energy balance dictates that the initial kinetic energy of the gas and injected liquid will be distributed into the final surface tension energy, kinetic energy of the gas and droplets, and viscous dissipation. Using this approach, the drop size can be determined based on the basic injection and fluid parameters for “air-blast” atomization, where the injected liquid is atomized by high-speed coflow of air. The viscous dissipation term is estimated using appropriate velocity and length scales of liquid–air coflow breakup. The mass and energy balances for the spray flows render to an expression that relates the drop size to all of the relevant parameters, including the gas- and liquid-phase velocities and fluid properties. The results agree well with experimental data and correlations for the drop size. The solution also provides for drop size–velocity cross-correlation, leading to computed drop size distributions based on the gas-phase velocity distribution. This approach can be used in the estimation of the drop size for practical sprays and also as a primary atomization module in computational simulations of air-blast atomization over a wide range of injection and fluid conditions, the only caveat being that a parameter to account for the viscous dissipation needs to be calibrated with a minimal set of observational data.
A Micropump Sucker Using a Piezo-Driven Flexible Mechanism
Authors: Liu Jihao , Yan Weixin , Zhao Yanzheng
Published: April 2019

A micropump sucker employs a gas film micropump to produce a negative pressure adhesion in a suction cup. In this study, a piezo-driven flexible actuator was developed based on a bridge-type mechanism as a vibrator for such a micropump film. The model of the flexible actuator under an external load is built based on an elastic model, and the displacement, driving force, and work efficiency are formulated in terms of the external loads, materials, and geometric parameters. The finite element method was used to verify this analytical model. An increase in the compliance of flexure hinges was found to improve the performances of the flexible actuator. The Young’s modulus of materials decides force performances and the effects of external loads. Based on the elastic analysis, the proposed flexible mechanism, made of silicon, was optimized to realize optimal output displacement in a compact size and employed in the prototype of a micropump sucker with a weight of 1.3 g that produced a maximum negative pressure of 2.45 kPa. It can hold on a weight of 1.4 g. When the inlet of the proposed sucker is open, it has the maximum flow rate of 4 ml/min.
Estimation of field psychoacoustic indices and predictive annoyance models for road traffic noise combined with aircraft noise
Authors: Gille Laure-Anne , Marquis-Favre Catherine
Published: April 2019

Annoyance due to urban road traffic noise combined with aircraft noise was studied using both laboratory and field survey data. Laboratory data were used to propose (i) partial annoyance models considering psychoacoustic indices and noise sensitivity, and (ii) total annoyance models considering noise indices or partial annoyance models. To predict partial and total annoyance in field, a methodology was proposed to estimate the different psychoacoustic indices, involved in annoyance models, from Ldenvalues. This methodology, interesting from a practical point of view, and the proposed annoyance models enable a good prediction of the field partial and total annoyance ratings compared to models based on Lden only. These results show that there is a need to develop the methodology of psychoacoustic index estimation from noise map Lden and also partial and total annoyance models.
An investigation of the significance of frequency weighting in speech intelligibility calculations
Authors: Doedens Ric
Published: April 2019

Differing approaches to quantifying speech intelligibility exist within ASTM architectural acoustic standards E1130 and E2638. E1130 was written for open office conditions and to cover a wide range of intelligibility levels. E2638 was written for enclosed room scenarios and focuses on speech privacy at confidential levels or higher. Each is currently being evaluated with respect to the possibility of expansion to include both open and closed settings. One difference between the two methodologies pertains to whether background sound level frequencies are weighted or averaged. This paper explores how frequency weighting of background sound levels is significant in the determination of speech intelligibility/privacy/security.