bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advancing the Use of Mobile Technologies in Clinical Trials: Recommendations from the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative
Authors: Coran Philip , Goldsack Jennifer C. , Grandinetti Cheryl A. , Bakker Jessie P. , Bolognese Marisa , Dorsey E. Ray , Vasisht Kaveeta , Amdur Adam , Dell Christopher , Helfgott Jonathan , Kirchoff Matthew , Miller Christopher J. , Narayan Ashish , Patel Dharmesh , Peterson Barry , Ramirez Ernesto , Schiller Drew , Switzer Thomas , Wing Liz , Forrest Annemarie , Doherty Aiden
Published: November 2019

Mobile technologies offer the potential to reduce the costs of conducting clinical trials by collecting high-quality information on health outcomes in real-world settings that are relevant to patients and clinicians. However, widespread use of mobile technologies in clinical trials has been impeded by their perceived challenges. To advance solutions to these challenges, the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI) has issued best practices and realistic approaches that clinical trial sponsors can now use. These include CTTI recommendations on technology selection; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; data management; protocol design and execution; and US Food and Drug Administration submission and inspection. The scientific principles underpinning the clinical trials enterprise continue to apply to studies using mobile technologies. These recommendations provide a framework for including mobile technologies in clinical trials that can lead to more efficient assessment of new therapies for patients.
The Efficacy and Safety of a Promising Single-Channel Endoscopic Closure Technique for Endoscopic Treatment-Related Artificial Ulcers: A Pilot Study
Authors: Minoda Yosuke , Ihara Eikichi , Ogino Haruei , Komori Keishi , Otsuka Yoshihiro , Ikeda Hiroko , Esaki Mitsuru , Chinen Takatoshi , Matsuguchi Takahiro , Takahashi Shunsuke , Shiga Noriko , Yoshimura Rie , Ogawa Yoshihiro
Published: November 2019

Background/Aims: It is important to appropriately manage patients with procedure-related artificial mucosal ulcers or procedure-related complications. Many endoscopic closure techniques have been reported; however, they often require the use of special devices. We developed a single-channel endoscopic closure technique (SCCT) that can be performed with conventional devices. In the present study, we describe the technique and evaluate its efficacy. Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic treatment and whose artificial ulcer was closed using the SCCT were enrolled in this study. The technical success rate, number of clips for closure, procedure time, complication rate on the day of the procedure, clinical success rates on days 1 and 5, and incidence of severe stenosis of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract at 2 months after the procedure were evaluated. Results: The median ulcer diameter was 20 mm. The tumor locations were the stomach (n = 19), jejunum (n = 1), and colon (n = 5). The technical success rate was 100% (25/25), and the rate of incomplete closure was 0% (0/25). Eight clips were needed on average. The median procedure time was 18 min (range 5–49 min). The complication rate was 0% (25/25). The clinical success rates on days 1 and 5 were 100% (19/19) and 100% (9/9), respectively. No patients presented stenosis as a late complication at 2 months after the procedure (0/25). Conclusion: The SCCT could be applied in the treatment of artificial ulcers in several parts of the GI tract with a high clinical success rate and no complications. The SCCT appears to be a good option for closing artificial mucosal ulcers.
Імплементація протоколів ERAS у хірургічному лікуванні кіст підшлункової залози
Authors: Ioffe O. Yu. , Stetsenko O. P. , Cura Yu. P. , Kryvopustov M. S.
Published: November 2019

Мета роботи: імплементація програми швидкого відновлення (ERAS) у хірургічному лікуванні кіст підшлункової залози.

Матеріали і методи. Проведено аналіз хірургічного лікування 12 хворих із кістою підшлункової залози, яким було виконано лапароскопічну цистоєюностомію за Ру з приводу псевдокіст підшлункової залози, що сформувалась після перенесеного гострого деструктивного панкреатиту. У всіх пацієнтів використано періопераційну програму ERAS.

Результати досліджень та їх обговорення. Внаслідок використання програми ERAS тривалість операції в середньому склала (172,23 ± 53,30) хв, обʼєм крововтрати до 100 – 150 мл, середній ліжко-день – (3,92±0,92) доби, дренаж видаляли після контрольного УЗД дослідження на першу післяопераційну добу у всіх пацієнтів. У 8 пацієнтів перше випорожнення спостерігали протягом першої післяопераційної доби, у 4-х – протягом 2-ї після використання одноразово послаблюючої клізми. Ускладнень, пов’язаних з неспроможністю анастомозів, не спостерігали. Інтенсивність больового синдрому в першу і другу післяопераційну добу за допомогою ВАШ склало 5,25 і 3,5 бала, відповідно. У всіх оперованих пацієнтів були задовільні показники діастази. Нудоту в першу післяопераційну добу спостерігали в 3 пацієнтів, що одразу ефективно купірувалась введенням медикаментів. Блювання не спостерігали у жодного пацієнта. Протягом 1-го року всі пацієнти знаходились під наглядом з УЗД-контролем. Жодних віддалених післяопераційних ускладнень не виявлено.
Порівняльна оцінка різних методів закриття ранових дефектів у пацієнтів із синдромом стопи діабетика
Authors: Dzyubanovsky I. Ya. , Antoshchuk R. M. , Prodan A. M.
Published: November 2019

Мета роботи: покращити результати хірургічного лікування хворих із синдромом стопи діабетика (CCД) шляхом використання сучасних методів закриття ранових дефектів.

Матеріали і методи. Проведено аналіз результатів комплексного обстеження й лікування 67 хворих із ССД. Пацієнтів поділені на групу порівняння – 31 (46,27 %) хворий, яким виконано “класичну” автодермопластику, та основну групу – 36 (53,73 %) хворих. Серед них у 17 (47,22 %) хворих проведено закриття ранового дефекту за допомогою еквіваленту дерми, а у 19 (52,78 %) хворих використано PRP методику. Відповідно до клінічних форм ССД виділено невропатичну форму стопи діабетика у 30 (44,78 %) хворих та нейроішемічну форму стопи діабетика у 37 (55,22 %) хворих. На підставі отриманих результатів використання різних способів закриття дефектів обчислювали площу та швидкість загоєння ран.

Результати досліджень та їх обговорення. За результатами аналізу застосування еквіваленту дерми встановлено наступне: на     20-ту добу лікування площа рани у 1,76 раза менша від площі рани в пацієнтів без використання еквіваленту дерми; швидкість загоєння рани вища в 1,41 раза. При застосуванні PRP мембрани встановлено, що на 20-ту добу лікування площа рани у 2,25 раза менша від площі рани в пацієнтів без використання PRP мембрани, а швидкість загоєння рани вища в 1,45 раза. Використання клітинно-тканинних технологій та збагаченою тромбоцитами та факторами росту мембрани у місцевому лікуванні ранового дефекту дозволяє досягти загоєння й поліпшує результати лікування за рахунок прискорення строків епітелізації порівняно із традиційною терапією.
Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis After TAVR and SAVR
Authors: Summers Matthew R. , Leon Martin B. , Smith Craig R. , Kodali Susheel K. , Thourani Vinod H. , Herrmann Howard C. , Makkar Raj R. , Pibarot Philippe , Webb John G. , Leipsic Jonathon , Alu Maria C. , Crowley Aaron , Hahn Rebecca T. , Kapadia Samir R. , Tuzcu E. Murat , Svensson Lars , Cremer Paul C. , Jaber Wael A.
Published: November 2019

Background:

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a rare but critical mechanism of valve failure and death after transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement (TAVR, SAVR) warranting further analysis in modern aortic valve replacement experience. We characterize the incidence, risk factors, microbiological profile and outcomes of PVE from the PARTNER trials and registries (Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valve).

Methods:

We analyzed a pooled cohort of all patients in PARTNER 1 and PARTNER 2 trials and registries. Patients had severe aortic stenosis, were treated with TAVR or SAVR, and were analyzed with respect to development of PVE. PVE adjudication by a clinical events committee was based on modified Duke Criteria. The incidence, infection timing, organism, and association between PVE and all-cause mortality were analyzed.

Results:

8530 patients were included. PVE occurred in 107 cases (5.06 PVE events per 1000 person-years over a mean follow-up of 2.69±1.55 years [95% CI, 4.19–6.12]). The incidence of TAVR-PVE (5.21 PVE per 1000 person-years [95% CI, 4.26–6.38]) was not significantly different from SAVR-PVE (4.10 per 1000 person-years [95% CI, 2.33–7.22]; incident rate ratio, 1.27 [95% CI, 0.70–2.32];
P
=0.44). Temporal risk of PVE was similar for TAVR and SAVR, even after adjusting for competing risk of death (hazard ratio, 1.15 [95% CI, 0.58–2.28];
P
=0.69). Through multivariable analysis, PVE was associated with baseline cirrhosis (incident rate ratio, 2.86 [95% CI, 1.33–6.16];
P
=0.007), pulmonary disease (incident rate ratio, 1.70 [95% CI, 1.16–2.48];
P
=0.006), and renal insufficiency (incident rate ratio, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.03–2.83];
P
=0.04). Timing of PVE was similar between TAVR and SAVR (<30 days: 4.2% vs 8.3%; 31 days to 1 year: 52.6% vs 66.7%; >1 year: 43.2% vs 25.0%;
P
=0.28). Staphylococcus occurred more commonly after SAVR (58.3% vs 28.4% in TAVR;
P
=0.04). PVE was strongly associated with all-cause mortality after endocarditis diagnosis (hazard ratio, 4.4 [95% CI, 3.42–5.72];
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions:

The widespread adoption of TAVR and application to lower-risk patients makes understanding mechanisms of valve failure increasingly important. PVE is an established mechanism of prosthetic valve failure post-SAVR and TAVR with unclear differences between approaches. We herein demonstrate in the largest trials and registries of TAVR that PVE remains rare, but often fatal, in modern AVR experience and that there is no difference in incidence, predictors, or risk of PVE between TAVR and SAVR.

Clinical Trial Registration:

https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifiers: NCT00530894 (PARTNER 1), NCT01314313 (PARTNER 1IA), NCT02184442 (PARTNER 1IB), NCT03222141 (PII S3HR), NCT03222128 (PII S3i).
Diabetes Mellitus Is Associated With Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Patients With and Without Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Olesen Kevin K.W. , Madsen Morten , Gyldenkerne Christine , Thrane Pernille G. , Würtz Morten , Thim Troels , Jensen Lisette O. , Eikelboom John , Bøtker Hans Erik , Sørensen Henrik T. , Maeng Michael
Published: November 2019

Background and Purpose—

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and non-DM patients without coronary artery disease (CAD) have a similar low risk of myocardial infarction after coronary angiography. The risk of ischemic stroke in DM patients dependent on CAD status is less explored. We examined whether DM patients without CAD have a risk of ischemic stroke similar to that in patients with neither DM nor CAD.

Methods—

We conducted a cohort study of patients who underwent coronary angiography between 2004 and 2012 in Western Denmark. Patients diagnosed with previous ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack were excluded. Patients were stratified according to the presence of DM and CAD. Follow-up started 30 days after coronary angiography. We computed event rates and adjusted incidence rate ratios using patients without DM or CAD as reference. We examined the trend between CAD extent and ischemic stroke in patients with DM.

Results—

A total of 81 909 patients were included. Median follow-up was 3.8 years. Patients with both DM and CAD were at the highest risk of ischemic stroke (1.32 events per 100 person-years; adjusted incidence rate ratio, 2.00 [95% CI, 1.72–2.32]). Patients with CAD alone (0.77 events per 100 person-years; adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.12–1.44]) or DM alone (0.95 events per 100 person-years; adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.74 [95% CI, 1.42–2.15]) were at intermediate risk, whereas patients with neither DM nor CAD (0.52 events per 100 person-years) were at the lowest risk. Among patients with DM, extent of CAD was further predictive of risk (
P
trend
<0.001).

Conclusions—

Not only CAD but also DM are associated with the risk of ischemic stroke after coronary angiography. Their combination further increases the risk of ischemic stroke depending on the extent of CAD.
Time Metrics to Endovascular Thrombectomy in 3 Triage Concepts
Authors: Seker Fatih , Fiehler Jens , Möhlenbruch Markus A. , Heimann Friederike , Flottmann Fabian , Ringleb Peter A. , Thomalla Götz , Steiner Thorsten , Kraemer Christoffer , Brekenfeld Caspar , Bendszus Martin
Published: November 2019

Background and Purpose—

NEUROSQUAD (Stroke Treatment: Quality and Efficacy in Different Referral Systems) is a prospective, observational, bi-center study comparing 3 triage pathways in endovascular stroke treatment: mothership (MS), drip and ship (DS) and transferring a neurointerventionalist to a remote hospital for thrombectomy (drive the doctor [DD]).

Methods—

Between February and October 2018, all stroke patients undergoing thrombectomy at 2 university hospitals and 2 associated remote hospitals were included. Primary outcome measures were time from onset to groin puncture and time from imaging to groin puncture. Secondary outcome measures were time from onset to imaging and time from onset to thrombolysis.

Results—

In total, 440 patients were included (mothership 32.3%, DS 55.9%, DD 11.8%). Median time from onset to groin puncture (168 minutes) and time from imaging to groin puncture (51 minutes) were the shortest in the mothership group. Time from onset to groin puncture (DD median 225 versus DS median 300 minutes;
P
=0.001) and time from imaging to groin puncture (DD median 118 versus DS median 172 minutes;
P
<0.001) were shorter in the DD group compared with DS. Time from onset to imaging was similar among mothership, DS, and DD (
P
=0.363). In patients receiving thrombolysis, time from onset to needle was similar among the groups (
P
=0.620).

Conclusions—

The NEUROSQUAD study adds evidence that DD may be a feasible alternative to DS, leading to shorter delay between symptom onset and groin puncture. Both are time-wise inferior compared with mothership, though.
ʿAnāq bt. Ādam, the Islamic Story of the Very First Witch
Authors: Coulon Jean-Charles
Published: November 2019

Some Islamic traditions mention an enigmatic daughter of Adam named ʿAnāq. Little is known about her; for example, the corresponding entry in the Encyclopaedia of Islam simply states that ʿAnāq is the “name given by the Arabs to the daughter of Adam, the twin sister of Seth, wife of Cain and mother of ʿŪd̲j̲.” ʿAnāq is always mentioned in relation to her son, the giant ʿŪj, who was supposed to be the only creature outside the Ark to have survived the Flood in the time of Noah, and who was assumed to have been killed by Moses. We gather here the information and traditions about the Islamic ʿAnāq in order to draw a more coherent and historically contextualized portrait of this legendary first witch.
The Right to Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy in Italy: Taking Stock Forty Years after the Enactment of Law no. 194/1978. Comparative Law-based Remarks
Authors: Montanari Vergallo Gianluca
Published: November 2019

Forty years after the enactment of Law no. 194/78 that governs voluntary interruption of pregnancy, Italy has been experiencing difficulties guaranteeing that patients gain access to abortion procedures in a timely fashion. Conscientious objection detracts considerably from the very effectiveness of the law, as pointed out by major European institutions as well. Hence, the network of family planning and counselling centres needs to be expanded and supported; such institutions, in fact, may go a long way in ensuring that women make the best, informed decisions. The author has set out to deal with those issues by means of a comparative analysis. He believes that Italian lawmakers ought to follow in the footsteps of other European countries in order to balance the rights of objecting gynaecologists against those of women who choose to have an abortion, despite the relatively small number of doctors willing to carry out the procedure.
Urbanizing Forest: Archaeological Evidence from Southern Bénin
Authors: Merkyte Inga , Albek Søren , Randsborg Klavs
Published: November 2019

Until recently archaeological evidence predating the historically known Kingdom of Dahomey in southern Bénin has been next to non-existent. The situation changed when deep and long drainage channels were dug into the fertile soils at the modern town of Bohicon. In the sides of these channels, rich cultural remains appeared, confirming the assumption that high rates of soil accumulation have caused low archaeological visibility in the forest/former forest belt of West Africa. Geophysical mapping and extensive excavations have revealed two large settlements of 500-600 hectares each, partly overlapping but separated by 2000 years. This paper presents both sites – Sodohomé 1, the earliest site encountered so far in southern Bénin, and Sodohomé 2 (or Sodohomé-Bohicon) which dates to AD 900-1150/1220. Although the first has produced some remarkable results, for instance, an iron spearhead that is the oldest securely dated non-meteoritic iron object in Africa known so far, the focus is on the latter site where evidence demonstrates the existence of a true town with craft specialisation, industrial-scale iron production, long-distance trade and wide communication networks.
Control of root system architecture by phytohormones and environmental signals in rice
Authors: Lin Chen , Sauter Margret
Published: November 2019

Drought and flooding are environmental extremes and major threats to crop production. Water uptake is achieved by plant roots which have to explore new soil spaces to alleviate water deficit during drought or to cope with water excess during flooding. Adaptation of the root system architecture helps plants cope with such extreme conditions and is crucial for plant health and survival. While for dicot plants the well studied model plant Arabidopsis thaliana has provided insight into the genetic and molecular regulation of the root system, less information is available for monocot species, which include the agronomically important cereal crops. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a semi-aquatic monocot plant that develops strong tolerance to flooding. Flooding tolerance of rice is closely linked to its adaptive root system. The functional root system of rice is mainly composed of crown roots and is shifted to nodal adventitious roots during flooding which allows rice to maintain oxygen supply to the roots and to survive longer periods of partial submergence as compared with other crops. Likewise, a number of drought-tolerance traits of rice are the result of an altered root system architecture. Hence, the structure of the root system adapts to, both, flooding and drought. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms that control root system adaptation to extreme environments is a key task for scientists to accelerate the breeding efforts for stress-tolerant crops. This review summarizes recently identified genes and molecular mechanisms that regulate root system architecture in rice in response to drought and flooding.
Vegetative propagation of elite Eucalyptus clones as food source for honeybees (Apis mellifera); adventitious roots versus callus formation
Authors: Eliyahu Avi , Duman Zvi , Sherf Sara , Genin Olga , Cinnamon Yuval , Abu-Abied Mohamad , Weinstain Roy , Dag Arnon , Sadot Einat
Published: November 2019

Summer and autumn in Israel are highly arid with not enough plants in bloom offering nectar and pollen to support the local apiary. This leads to decline in colony health and honey production. To increase food sources for honeybees, we initiated a project to clone elite Eucalyptus trees exhibiting constant and rich blooming from late summer to early winter. We induced adventitious roots from cuttings of two mature Eucalyptus trees of which nectar production and honeybees’ attraction was measured: Eucalyptus brachyphylla and Eucalyptus x trabutii. During the rooting process, a high frequency of cylindrical callus formation instead of roots was obtained. To shed light on the inner anatomy of the callus chunks, we compared their cell organization and cell-wall composition to those of roots. Whereas in the root, cells were organized in circumferential symmetry, no symmetry was found in the callus. Instead, a more chaotic accumulation of meristematic-like cells with sporadic clusters of tracheary elements laid in different directions were observed. The outer cell layer of the callus often included swollen cells with thin cell walls. Most callus cells stained more strongly for cellulose and lignin than cells in the root meristem. In addition, specific antibodies to methylesterified and de-methylesterified pectin showed differential staining of callus vs. root cells indicating cell wall differences. Strikingly, roots were seen to differentiate from the chaotic cell organization of the callus, albeit at low rates. Further investigation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying callus formation, are required.
Re-evaluation of Opuntia matudae (Cactaceae)

Authors: MARTÍNEZ-GONZÁLEZ CÉSAR RAMIRO , GALLEGOS-VÁZQUEZ CLEMENTE , SCHEINVAR LEÍA , LEÓN MARÍA EUGENIA MUÑIZ-DÍAZ DE , JIMÉNEZ-RAMÍREZ JAIME
Published: November 2019

A detailed morphological and molecular study on Opuntia matudae and O. hyptiacantha is presented. These two species have been long considered to belong to the same taxon, although no investigations were carried out in depth. Moreover, no published phylogenetic study of the genus Opuntia include both species. Our data support the recognition of O. matudae and O. hyptiacantha as different and unrelated species.
Phylogeny of marine Ainuyusurika tuberculata (Tokunaga) (Diptera: Chironomidae: Chironominae), with description of the immature stages
Authors: HAN WU , TANG HONGQU
Published: November 2019

The marine Chironomidae Ainuyusurika Sasa et Shirasaka, 1988, previously known from the adults only, is associated with its immature stages for the first time based on reared specimens from Oriental China. The larva resembles those of Sergentia Kieffer and Endochironomus Kieffer in the ventromental plate with an anteromedial projection and the 5-segmented antenna with opposite Lauterborn organs. The pupal thoracic horn has 12 branches at maximum and netted tergite spinulation which appears to be similar to those of Polypedilum Kieffer, Endotribelos Grodhaus, Phaenopsectra Kieffer and Sergentia. The phylogenetic relationship was furtherly explored through molecular analysis based on concatenation of five gene makers (18S, 28S, CAD1, CAD4 and COI-3P) using both mixed-model Bayesian and maximum likelihood inference methods. The result shows Ainuyusurika is nested with an assemblage of Endochironomus, Phaenopsectra and Endotribelos. We concluded that Ainuyusurika is a good independent genus showing affinity with Endochironomus-Phaenopsectra related genera.
Optimal Path Planning Using Swarm Intelligence Based Hybrid Techniques
Authors: Sood Monica , Verma Sahil , Panchal Vinod Kumar , Kavita
Published: November 2019

The planning of optimal path is an important research domain due to vast applications of optimal path planning in the robotics, simulation and modeling, computer graphics, virtual reality estimation and animation, and bioinformatics. The optimal path planning application demands to
determine the collision free shortest and optimal path. There can be numerous possibilities that to find the path with optimal length based on different types of available obstacles during the path and different types of workspace environment. This research work aims to identify the optimum
path from the initial source-point to final point for the unknown workspace environment consists of static obstacles. For this experimentation, swarm intelligence based hybrid concepts are considered as the work collaboration and intelligence behavior of swarm agents provides the resourceful
solution of NP hard problems. Here, the hybridization of concepts makes the solution of problem more efficient. Among swarm intelligence concepts, cuckoo search (CS) algorithm is one of the efficient algorithms due to clever behavior and brood parasitic property of cuckoo birds. In this research
work, two hybrid concepts are proposed. First algorithm is the hybridized concept of cuckoo search with bat algorithm (BA) termed as CS-BAPP. Another algorithm is the hybridized concept of cuckoo search with firefly algorithm (FA) termed as CS-FAPP. Both algorithms are initially tested on
the benchmarks functions and applied to the path planning problem. For path planning, a real time dataset area of Alwar region situated at Rajasthan (India) is considered. The selected region consists of urban and dense vegetation land cover features. The results for the optimal path planning
on Alwar region are assessed using the evaluation metrics of minimum number of iterations, error rate, success rate, and simulation time. Moreover, the results are also compared with the individual FA, BA, and CS along with the comparison of hybrid concepts.
Cost Benefit Analysis of Customized Application Software for Insurance Sector Using Perfective Maintenance
Authors: Malik Navneet , Tiwari Sudhanshu Prakash , Phonsa Gurbaksh
Published: November 2019

This paper discusses the profit Analysis of Customized Application Software against the standard ERP for insurance sector. This Application Software contains different modules. This application software contains different modules such as policy management, claim management, customer
management and profit management, marketing management. Customized application software can work in reduced and full working dimensions which means from the given set of modules one or more than one may not working as expected. In one Application Software model the system can work in decreased
state which implies the product is having old highlights and need versatile, restorative, preventive and perfective upkeep to achieve the full limit working state.
A Proposed Framework for Emotion Recognition Using Canberra Distance Classifier
Authors: Santosh Mamta , Sharma Avinash
Published: November 2019

Facial Expression Recognition has become the preliminary research area due to its importance in human-computer interaction. Facial Expressions conveys the major part of information so it has vast applications in various fields. Many techniques have been developed in the literature but
there is still a need to make the current expression recognition methods efficient. This paper represents proposed framework for face detection and recognizing six universal facial expressions such as happy, anger, disgust, fear, surprise, sad along with neutral face. Viola-Jones method and
Face Landmark Detection method are used for face detection. Histogram of oriented gradients is used for feature extraction due to its superiority over other methods. To reduce the dimensionality of features Principal Component Analysis is used so that the maximum variation is preserved. Canberra
distance classifier is used for classifying the expressions into different emotions. The proposed method is applied on Japanese Female Facial Expression Database and have evaluated that the proposed method outperforms many state-of-the-art techniques.
Intrusion Detection in Smart Grid Using Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Iqbal Anzar , Pooja
Published: November 2019

One among the most unpredictable cyber physical systems accessible around the globe is Smart Grid. The fundamental motivation behind smart grid is to utilize transmission alongside distribution framework to keep up satisfactory stream of power from generation systems to end clients.
The disturbances in power are exceptionally erratic on account of the utilization of different characteristic and man-made sources. Control administrator are for the most part dependent on the unsettling influences of power system for their response and after that make specific response based
on these occasions. Humans can’t identify the different cyber-attacks over the power frameworks, since attackers are sufficiently brilliant to cover the tracks. To recognize the different cyber-attacks and separating different power system aggravations, Machine learning is an improving
method utilized and consequently people, using this strategy, can make better decisions regarding the cause for power disturbances by focusing mainly on the cyber-attacks. Therefore, we investigate different Machine learning strategies as a methods for Detection and classification of these
attacks and furthermore examine practical utilization of these procedures as an improvement to past power system architectures.
Testing of Linux Performance Monitoring Tools on ARM Based Raspberry Pi
Authors: Kaur Jasleen , Reddy S. R. N.
Published: November 2019

The open source feature of Linux operating system has resulted in considerable number of Linux performance monitoring tools. These tools are utilized to calculate the execution performance of the Linux operating system. This paper provides a brief overview of different Linux performance
monitoring tools. It then tests the various discussed tools on ARM based Raspberry Pi (Rpi) board. The experimental results are obtained with respect to the python script to monitor the real time environmental temperature and humidity. The performance of Raspberry Pi based monitoring system
is estimated in view of parameters such as response time, context switches, memory and CPU usage etc.
Energy-Efficient and Secure Data Forwarding Mechanism for Balancing Cluster Lifetime for Huge Size Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Sharma Charu , Vaid Rohit
Published: November 2019

In designing Wireless Sensor Networks, energy efficiency and security should be considered very critically. Energy efficiency is achieved through data aggregation which eliminates the transmission of redundant data while security is achieved by preserving confidentiality among sensor
node and the base station. In this paper, an energy efficient and secure cluster based aggregation mechanism is presented. In this model, for energy efficiency the network is divided into tracks and sectors so the cluster head’s are uniformly selected from the whole network. To achieve
security the cluster head’s perform data aggregation with the help of some pattern codes and only distinctive data is transmitted from sensor nodes in encrypted form. To perform aggregation, the sensor nodes do not need to know about the actual sensor data therefore there is no need
to use any encryption or decryption schemes between nodes and cluster head. Performance evaluation shows proposed model works better to enhance the network lifetime, security, average residual energy, and average packet transmission ratio than conventional data aggregation models.
Modelling of Electromagnetic Scattering at Infrared Wavelengths by Pristine Ice Crystals
Authors: Shaker Jawad , Bebbington David
Published: November 2019

Cirrus clouds substantially impact Earth's atmospheric system, including its radiative budget, both of which enormously influence all scales of weather regions and processes. The shapes of ice crystals are ultimately determined by incident coordinate systems and relevant geometric models,
specifically computational geometry and applied mathematics. and incident coordinate systems determine the shapes of ice crystals (Takano, Y. and Liou, K.N., 1995. Radiative transfer in cirrus clouds. Part III: Light scattering by irregular ice crystals. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences,
52 (7), pp.818–837.). However, the scattering solution present in the infrared's spectrum area a complex dilemma. In previous attempts to solve scattering methods, such as Rayleigh theories, Mie and T-matrix methods, various established methods have been explored. However, it is
important to note that such methods are faulty at infrared wavelengths because of size parameters, which can often exceed 100, consequently resulting in intensive computation. This paper presents a new approach based on physical optics and attempts to evaluate scattering by smooth prismatic
dielectric ice crystals—specifically those which are electrically large. This method suggests that the total scattered amplitude in any trend can be measured by applying the reaction theorem to a volume interval from understanding internal field distribution. Subsequently, it is possible
to convert this integral to an integral over an equivalent surface current distribution, thus, enabling total surface field analysis. The scattered field solution of the proposed physical optics method has been compared with ray-launching geometrical optics. Overall, the recommend method shows
a good agreement when the scatterer is considered sizably large in comparison to wavelength. The proposed method exhibits good potential to be applied for ice crystals with rough surface structure.
Effects of Temperature–Humidity Treatment on Bending Reliability of Epoxy Sn–58Bi Solder with Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG) and Electroless Nickel Electroless Palladium Immersion Gold (ENEPIG) Surface Finishes
Authors: Jeong Haksan , Lee Choong-Jae , Myung Woo-Ram , Min Kyung Deuk , Jung Seung-Boo
Published: November 2019

An epoxy Sn–58wt.%Bi solder joint was evaluated by a three-point bending test with electroless nickel immersion gold (ENIG) and electroless nickel electroless palladium immersion gold (ENEPIG) surface finishes aged at 85 °C and 85% relative humidity. Scanning electron microscopy
and electron probe microanalysis were carried out to study intermetallic compound variation. The morphology, total thickness, and chemical composition of intermetallic compound in epoxy Sn58Bi solder joints were the same as those of Sn–58wt.%Bi solder joints with each surface finish.
The average number of bending-to-failure cycles for the epoxy Sn–58wt.%Bi solder/ENIG joints and epoxy Sn–58wt.%Bi solder/ENEPIG was more than 4000 and 5000, respectively. The average number of bending-to-failure cycles of the epoxy Sn–58wt.%Bi solder joint decreased with
increasing age. Three-point bending reliability of epoxy Sn–58wt.%Bi solder joints was higher than that of Sn–58wt.%Bi solder with both surface finishes. Cracking of all solder joints subjected to as-reflowed was propagated through the solder matrix. However, after aging for 1000
h, cracking occurred primarily between intermetallic compound layers.
Effects of Bath Composition and P Contents on the Mechanical Properties of Ni-P Electroplating
Authors: Cheon Hong-Uk , Lee Jae-Ho
Published: November 2019

Ni-P alloys are fabricated on the pre-cleaned copper substrate using electroplating method in sulfate bath. The concentration of phosphorous acid and current density were varied to optimize the P contents as well as the physical properties of the alloy. The properties of Ni-P alloy
were analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The surface hardness of the Ni-P alloy was increased up to 550 Hv as the phosphorous acid (H3PO3) increased upto 0.015 M, however
the higher phosphorous contents in the coating developed the cracked on the surface. The surface hardness was increased due the grain refinement.
Two-Layer Dynamic Recycling Model (2L-DRM): Learning from Moisture Tracking Models of Different Complexity
Authors: Dominguez F. , Hu H. , Martinez J. A.
Published: November 2019

Atmospheric moisture tracking models are used to identify and quantify sources and sinks of water in the atmospheric branch of the hydrologic cycle. These models are primarily used to investigate the origin of moisture resulting in precipitation for particular regions around the globe. Moisture tracking models vary widely in their level of complexity, depending on the number of physical processes represented. Complex models are comprehensive in their physical representation, but computationally much more expensive than simple models, which only focus on specific physical processes and use simplifying assumptions. We present the mathematical derivation of the new two-layer dynamical recycling model (2L-DRM), a simple analytical moisture tracking model that relaxes the vertically integrated formulation of the original one-layer DRM. By comparing the simple DRM to a very complex moisture tracking model that uses water vapor tracers embedded within the Weather Research and Forecasting regional climate model (WRF-WVT) for the North American monsoon region, we pinpoint the absence of vertical wind shear as the main deficiency in the simple DRM. When comparing both simple models (DRM and 2L-DRM) to the WRF-WVT (which we treat as “truth”), the 2L-DRM better captures the spatial extent, the net amount, and the temporal variability of precipitation that originates from oceanic and local terrestrial sources. The 2L-DRM is well suited to study the large-scale climatological sources of moisture, and for these applications, performs on par with the much more complex and computationally demanding WRF-WVT model.
Editorial Essay: The Tumult over Transparency: Decoupling Transparency from Replication in Establishing Trustworthy Qualitative Research
Authors: Pratt Michael G. , Kaplan Sarah , Whittington Richard
Published: November 2019

Management journals are currently responding to challenges raised by the “replication crisis” in experimental social psychology, leading to new standards for transparency. These approaches are spilling over to qualitative research in unhelpful and potentially even dangerous ways. Advocates for transparency in qualitative research mistakenly couple it with replication. Tying transparency tightly to replication is deeply troublesome for qualitative research, where replication misses the point of what the work seeks to accomplish. We suggest that transparency advocates conflate replication with trustworthiness. We challenge this conflation on both ontological and methodological grounds, and we offer alternatives for how to (and how not to) think about trustworthiness in qualitative research. Management journals need to tackle the core issues raised by this tumult over transparency by identifying solutions for enhanced trustworthiness that recognize the unique strengths and considerations of different methodological approaches in our field.
Reforming Housing Assistance
Authors: Collinson Robert , Ellen Ingrid Gould , Ludwig Jens
Published: November 2019

This article reviews current federal housing assistance policies and briefly summarizes research evidence about the efficacy of the different programs. We identify three key challenges that these programs face in meeting their stated objectives and suggest strategies for addressing them. The first challenge is the large variation in market conditions across the country, which makes it difficult to design assistance programs that are universally appropriate. We call for adjusting the type of assistance across markets, allowing for a greater match between subsidies and needs. The second set of challenges concerns subsidy generosity, structure, and targeting. The current system provides large subsidies to a small number of low-income households while providing nothing to most. Assuming limited government resources, we call for exploring the impact of more modest or time-limited subsidies to serve more people with more attention to targeting. The third challenge is the relatively poor location of housing in current assistance programs. We suggest strategies to help more assisted families reach high-opportunity areas.
Child Care and Child Care Policy: Existing Policies, Their Effects, and Reforms
Authors: Hotz V. Joseph , Wiswall Matthew
Published: November 2019

We analyze policies that support and affect the provision and costs of child care in the United States. These policies are motivated by at least three objectives: (1) improving the cognitive and social development of young children, (2) facilitating maternal employment, and (3) alleviating poverty. We summarize this policy landscape and the evidence on the effects they have on the development of children and parents. We provide a summary of the use and costs of nonparental child care services; and we summarize existing policies and programs that subsidize child care costs, provide child care to certain groups, and regulate various aspects of the services provided in the United States. We then review the evidence on the effects that child care policies have on these objectives. We go on to discuss the existing evidence of their effects on various outcomes. Finally, we outline three reform proposals that will both facilitate work by low-income mothers and improve the quality of child care that their children receive.
Entitlements: Options for Reforming the Social Safety Net in the United States
Authors: Moffitt Robert A. , Ziliak James P.
Published: November 2019

A combination of demographic aging and diversification, volatile business cycle conditions, stagnant real wages, declining employment, and policy choices have increased the need to examine the adequacy of the U.S. social safety net. Is it accomplishing what it is designed to do? Can it weather a fiscal storm? Current “entitlement” programs are in almost all cases providing important assistance to U.S. families and are improving families’ well-being, but they face significant challenges that will require the attention of policy-makers around the country. Some programs may need a structural revamping, while others could do with incremental modifications. Because U.S. entitlement programs address complex social issues, they are themselves complex systems; it follows, then, that meaningful reform must be thoughtful and nuanced, eschewing political expediency. Further, federal support is needed for even more high-quality research that will provide evidence on the types of reforms that will achieve the goals of the programs.
“In-Office Balloon Sinus Ostial Dilation with Concurrent Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Therapy for Chronic Rhinosinusitis without Nasal Polyps”
Authors: Higgins Thomas S. , Öcal Bülent , Adams Ridwan , Wu Arthur W.
Published: November 2019

Objective:

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and balloon sinus ostial dilation (BSD) are well-recognized minimally invasive surgical treatments for chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) refractory symptoms to medical therapy. Patients on antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies (AAT) usually are recommended to discontinue their medications around the period of endoscopic sinus surgery. The goal of this study is to assess the clinical experience of BSD in CRSsNP patients with concurrent anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy.

Methods:

A review of prospectively-collected clinical data from October 2012 to March 2017 were used to perform a cohort study of subjects with CRSsNP who met criteria for surgical intervention while on antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy. Data were collected on demographics, details of the procedures, type of AAT used, pre- and postoperative 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores, and complications.

Results:

Thirty-five patients underwent in-office BSD while on antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant therapy. The mean difference in pre- and postoperative SNOT-22 scores of 9.9 (SD 14.4, P < .001) was both statistically significant and exceeded the minimal clinically important difference of 8.9. Absorbable nasal packing was used for persistent bleeding immediately post-procedure in two patients. Intraoperative bleeding was associated with aspirin 325 mg and warfarin. FESS was required for further management of chronic sinusitis in four patients after anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy could be discontinued. There were no systemic complications. None of the patients experienced significant bleeding events postoperatively after leaving the office.

Conclusion:

In-office BSD appears to be a safe alternative to endoscopic sinus surgery in select patients who cannot discontinue antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy.

Levels of Evidence:

IV
What gets in the way? Men’s perspectives of barriers to mental health services
Authors: Seidler Zac E , Rice Simon M , Kealy David , Oliffe John L , Ogrodniczuk John S
Published: November 2019

Background:

This study describes barriers to accessing mental health services among men currently experiencing a mental health concern.

Methods:

Mental health help-seeking survey data from 778 male respondents who self-reported experiencing a mental health concern were analyzed.

Results:

Of these men, 65% ( n = 513) wanted treatment and 35% ( n = 265) did not want treatment. The most frequently endorsed barriers to mental health treatment were believing that a lot of people feel sad and down (80%; n = 620), not knowing what to look for in a psychotherapist (counselor; 80%; n = 618) and needing to solve one’s own problems (73%; n = 569). Compared with men who wanted help for their mental health concern, those men who did not want help were significantly more likely to be unsure if psychotherapy (counseling) really works or is effective, not tell their physician if they were feeling down or depressed and prefer to solve their own problems.

Conclusions:

The high endorsement of both structural (e.g., cost) and attitudinal (e.g., beliefs) barriers by respondents suggests that service delivery must adapt to better respond to dominant masculine ideals while also improving men’s ease of access into a transparent treatment process.
The ‘Islam of the Government’: The Islamic High Councils in Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia
Authors: Tamburini Francesco
Published: November 2019

Islam, in its relation between state and politics, has often been used to strengthen the sense of national identity or as a tool of self-legitimation by Arab regimes to gain the support of the people. This happened in Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia, where the state not only co-opted religion for official purposes but absorbed the ‘ ulamā’, the religious establishment, in the administration as simple employees of newly created institutions, such as the High Islamic Councils. This article aims to shed light on these little-known organizations, one of the regime’s keystones to having a firm hold on their power.
Financial Viability: A Descriptive Study of African American Banks’ Efficiency
Authors: Young John H.
Published: November 2019

African American community banks appear to be losing ground in their communities. The number of African American community banks continued to trend downward during the past two decades, suffering closure of 12 banks. As of 2017, only 23 banks remain. This trend forces the question: “Do African American community banks possess adequate financial viability to serve their communities?” The survival of African American Community Banks between 2006 and 2017 was examined using the efficiency ratio as the key measure of their financial viability. Results showed that African American banks managed to produce 1 year where they outperformed the peer banks in managing assets to produce profit. The most glaring discovery was that it cost the African American banking sector close to or more than US$1 to generate US$1 of revenue. Findings suggest that African American community banks were unable or unwilling to control the components that contribute to how successful the bank used its assets and liabilities to generate income during the study period.