bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The optimal moment capacity of plate girders: Parameter research on a plate girder under pure bending and a design strategy
Authors: Abspoel Roland
Published: September 2019

In a material driven economy, the lever arm between the flanges and the flange area have to increase to create a cross‐sectional class 4 section with an optimal moment resistance for a specific amount of steel. This leads to a higher moment resistance than based on a section of class 1 up to 3 with equal cross‐sectional area and the stiffness of such plate girder increases too. The increase in stiffness means that high strength steels can be used leading to a large reduction of the steel consumption. The web slenderness of the plate girder increases too and so flange induced buckling has to be verified. Eurocode 3 restricts the maximum web slenderness to avoid flange induced buckling, originally derived by Basler.

Experimental research conducted at the Stevin II laboratory of Delft University of Technology, shows that this requirement related to flange induced buckling is too conservative. Ten unstiffened plate girders with a web slenderness up to 800 are tested and analysed.

This paper presents the results of a parameter research and finally, a design strategy to design plate girders with a maximum web slenderness and so with an optimal moment resistance is presented.
Modular Building Design: Post‐Brexit Housing
Authors: Perampalam Gatheeshgar , Dobson Ross , Poologanathan Keerthan , Tsavdaridis Konstantinos Daniel , Nagaratnam Brabha , Iacovidou Eleni
Published: September 2019

The use of modular building systems (MBSs) in the construction sector is increasing. MBSs enhance structural performance of buildings, quality control, and construction speed than traditional methods at a lower cost. Additional benefits can be associated with resource efficiency at both the production and construction phases, which may increase MBSs' attractiveness and popularity in the short‐ and long‐term future. In the UK, the government is planning to solve Britain's housing crisis by constructing more than 100,000 modular homes in an effort to meet its target to provide a million new homes by 2020. At the same time, the construction sector is facing post‐Brexit skills shortages, while it is undergoing a technological revolution. One outcome of the latter has been the production of cold‐formed steel (CFS) hollow flange sections, which can be optimised using genetic algorithm and finite element analyses in order to improve the load‐carrying capacity of modular buildings. These optimised CFS beams, employed in MBSs, can light gauge the frame building constructions. This paper presents a review of MBSs and the application of CFS hollow flange steel sections in construction. It then summarises some of the key outputs of numerical studies on the structural behaviour of hollow flange beams to justify its applicability in MBS.
Design of slim‐floors and their connections between steel and concrete
Authors: Schorr Johannes , Kuhlmann Ulrike
Published: September 2019

Slim‐floor beams are composite beams with steel sections integrated into the concrete slab. The small section height together with high bending capacity enables to build large column‐free spaces. Furthermore the reduced height of the slim‐floor structure compared to conventional solutions may allow for more floors in a limited overall building height. Slim‐floor beams achieve a high degree of prefabrication when precast concrete elements or metal decking sheets are used. Accordingly, the construction time can be optimised to a minimum. Further advantages are the very good fire protection and joist free ceilings.

Due to the shallow depth of slim‐floor beams their structural response differs from conventional composite structures. Designers should consider additional effects to analyse the deformation behaviour as well as the load carrying behaviour. Based on extensive experimental and numerical investigations, the European research project SlimAPP compiles design principles for slim‐floor constructions in ultimate limit state as well as in serviceability limit state. Some of these rules may be included in Eurocode 4 by Project Team SC4.PT5 “Development of rules covering shallow floor construction, and other flooring types using pre‐cast concrete”. The background and requirements for designing the shear connector system for slim‐floor constructions as well as the utilisation of partial interaction and its influence on the load‐carrying behaviour are presented in this paper.
APPLICATION OF PARAMETRIC DESIGN IN PROJECT CONTAINING STEEL STRUCTURES: PARAMETRIC LIGHT‐RAIL STEEL BRIDGE
Authors: Nordestgaard Peter Madsen , Jensen Jesper , Mortensen Peter , Wyrtz Mikkel , Mikulenas Mantas , Trifan Alexandru Eugen
Published: September 2019

Traditionally, engineers await for a locked geometry from architects before modeling work starts. This is to avoid many changes and thereby risk of wasting time and money in the traditional manual way of working. With parametric design, we set up the design to cope with many changes and it is therefore adaptable for projects with many changes.

With the parametric approach, we deliver a 3D model and FEM calculations model in the early project phases without any time wasted for the coming changes in the project geometry.

These early models are to great benefit for all participants in the project as decisions regarding design, buildability and economics can be made on a more well founded basis.

A model generated parametrically means in basic terms that the model is set up as a program script, with various input parameters. The model is generated by running this script. Thereby any changes in input parameters will only result in a dynamic real time change of the model.

The time used to generate a parametric script for a given project, can be saved multiple times later in the project. Time is particularly saved if the project contains several similar structures, which can be generated by the same of parts of the same parametric script.

In MOE, we have experience from various projects containing parametric design scripting. In this article, we will focus on one example, a steel light‐rail bridge.
Preliminary study on the impact of initial imperfections on the post‐buckling rotation of square hollow sections in uniform bending
Authors: Müller Andreas , Taras Andreas
Published: September 2019

With increasing use of high‐strength steel grades, the need for more accurate design specifications arises, with the aim of fully exploiting the material benefits and create economic advantages. According to Eurocode 3, the maximum rotational capacity is limited and linked to the definition of cross‐sectional classes. For class 1, the rotation θ is assumed to be “infinite”, while it drops significantly for class 2 and 3 to a maximum rotation of θpl and θel, respectively. In reality, in spite of their lower hardening capacity and ultimate strains, high‐strength steel sections display a non‐negligible rotational capacity that exceeds these code predictions, which were developed for mild steel and with a level of analysis in mind that is suitable for hand calculations. For an increased use of high‐strength steel sections, it is thus very important to understand and to be able to predict a more realistic deformation and rotation capacity, with the aim of implementing the findings in tools for advanced, FEM‐based Design by Analysis (DbA) approaches. As an initial step in this direction, the proposed paper shows the results from numerical calculations on the rotational capacity of HSS rectangular hollow sections. The numerical results are calibrated against laboratory tests. Consequently, different rectangular cross section dimensions but also variations of the steel grade and the thickness are chosen and calculated in the finite element program ABAQUS.
Reductant‐Induced Free Radical Fluoroalkylation of Nitrogen Heterocycles and Innate Aromatic Amino Acid Residues in Peptides and Proteins
Authors: Rahimidashaghoul Kheironnesae , Klimánková Iveta , Hubálek Martin , Korecký Michal , Chvojka Matúš , Pokorný Daniel , Matoušek Václav , Fojtík Lukáš , Kavan Daniel , Kukačka Zdeněk , Novák Petr , Beier Petr
Published: September 2019

A series of fluoroalkylated cyclic λ3‐iodanes and their hydrochloride salts was prepared and used in a combination with sodium ascorbate in buffer or aqueous methanol mixtures for radical fluoroalkylation of a range of substituted indoles, pyrroles, tryptophan or its derivatives, and Trp residues in peptides. As demonstrated on several peptides, the aromatic amino acid residues of Trp, Tyr, Phe, and His are targeted with high selectivity to Trp. The functionalization method is biocompatible, mild, rapid, and transition‐metal‐free. The proteins myoglobin, ubiquitin, and human carbonic anhydrase I were also successfully functionalized.
The Interplay between Solvation and Stacking of Aromatic Rings Governs Bright and Dark Sites of Benzo[g]coumarins
Authors: Kielesiński Łukasz , Gryko Daniel T. , Sobolewski Andrzej L. , Morawski Olaf
Published: September 2019

Coumarins are classic, strongly polarized fluorophores with multiple applications, and significant efforts have been put into modifying their emission characteristics and elucidating their photophysics. Expecting that π‐expansion of these donor–acceptor chromophores could modify their ground‐ and excited‐state characteristics, the authors performed combined, detailed photophysical and computational studies of linearly π‐expanded coumarins, that is, 8‐dialkylamino‐3‐carboxyalkyl‐benzo[g]coumarins. The investigation led to the conclusion that emission is only possible thanks to the stabilizing effect of the solvent and that breaking of the lactone ring leads to the conical intersection with the ground state and induces the radiationless decay of the electronic excitation. Aiming at the fine‐tuning the excited state properties through the construction of covalently linked dye assemblies, the authors designed and synthesized a new bis(benzo[g]coumarin), built from two similar moieties that exhibit different degrees of polarization due to the electron donor at position 8: one possesses a dialkylamino, and the other a weaker amide donor. Comprehensive studies have shown that the observed weak fluorescence of the system is the result of the interplay between the solvation‐induced separation of the benzo[g]coumarin moieties, which stabilizes the emitting locally excited singlet state and the π‐stacking interactions, favoring their sandwiched orientation and leading to the non‐emissive charge‐transfer state.
Two π‐Conjugated Covalent Organic Frameworks with Long‐Term Cyclability at High Current Density for Lithium Ion Battery
Authors: Chen Heng , Zhang Yadi , Xu Chengyang , Cao Mufan , Dou Hui , Zhang Xiaogang
Published: September 2019

Organic lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are considered as one of the next‐generation green electrochemical energy storage (EES) devices. However, obtaining both high capacity and long‐term cyclability is still the bottleneck of organic electrode materials for LIBs because of weak structural and chemical stability and low conductivity. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) show potential to overcome these problems owing to its good stability and high capacity. Herein, the synthesis and characterization of two π‐conjugated COFs, derived from the Schiff‐base reaction of 2,4,6‐triaminopyrimidne (TM) respectively with 1,4‐phthalaldehyde (PA) and 1,3,5‐triformylbenzene (TB) by a mechanochemical process are presented. As anode materials for LIBs, the COFs exhibit favorable electrochemical performance with the highest reversible discharge capacities of up to 401.3 and 379.1 mAh g−1 at a high current density (1 A g−1), respectively, and excellent long‐term cyclability with 74.8 and 72.7 % capacity retention after 2000 cycles compared to the initial discharge capacities.
Hierarchical Mn3O4 Anchored on 3D Graphene Aerogels via C−O−Mn Linkage with Superior Electrochemical Performance for Flexible Asymmetric Supercapacitor
Authors: Fan Lishuang , Zhang Yu , Guo Zhikun , Sun Bing , Tian Da , Feng Yujie , Zhang Naiqing , Sun Kening
Published: September 2019

Flexible asymmetric supercapacitors are more appealing in flexible electronics because of high power density, wide cell voltage, and higher energy density than symmetric supercapacitors in aqueous electrolyte. In virtues of excellent conductivity, rich porous structure and interconnected honeycomb structure, three dimensional graphene aerogels show great potential as electrode in asymmetric supercapacitors. However, graphene aerogels are rarely used in flexible asymmetric supercapacitors because of easily re‐stacking of graphene sheets, resulting in low electrochemical activity. Herein, flower‐like hierarchical Mn3O4 and carbon nanohorns are incorporated into three dimensional graphene aerogels to restrain the stack of graphene sheets, and are applied as the positive and negative electrode for asymmetric supercapacitors devices, respectively. Besides, a strong chemical coupling between Mn3O4 and graphene via the C‐O‐Mn linkage is constructed and can provide a good electron‐transport pathway during cycles. Consequently, the asymmetric supercapacitor device shows high rate cycle stability (87.8 % after 5000 cycles) and achieves a high energy density of 17.4 μWh cm−2 with power density of 14.1 mW cm−2 (156.7 mW cm−3) at 1.4 V.
GDMT for heart failure and the clinician's conundrum
Authors: Samarendra Padmaraj
Published: September 2019

Therapeutic advances in management of CHF have decreased mortality and have impacted progression in patients with mild to moderate heart failure. Aggressive campaigns by cardiology societies aimed at increasing implementation of these measures in routine practices have almost generalized the treatment of heart failure irrespective of individual variations of clinical status of patients and stages of heart failure. This explains why morbidity compression and quality of life improvement have not been realized fully particularly in patients with advanced disease. To examine whether GDMT for CHF is backed by unambiguous evidence of clinical efficacy for its global implementation in every patient at all stages of the syndrome. ACC/AHA, ESC Guidelines for CHF, and their updates were reviewed. Clinical trial cited in the guideline documents and other pertaining published literatures were analyzed.

Findings

Many of the recommended GDMT for CHF lack unequivocal evidence of clinical efficacy in patients with diverge etiology of heart failure and concomitant comorbid conditions Some of the recommendations which are useful in early stages, lack evidence of efficacy in more advanced stages of heart failure. Application of results of research trials in patients beyond their inclusion and exclusion criteria, appears mere extrapolation, Clinicians are faced with the conundrum of implementing the recommendations without indubitable evidence of their efficacy in every patient of their practice.

Conclusion

A reappraisal of Guidelines is needed to address outstanding questions pertaining to the efficacy of recommendations and plug the knowledge gaps without assumption and extrapolation of results of RCTs beyond their inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Characteristics of Vegetation Carbon, Nitrogen, and C/N Ratio in a Tamarix chinensis Coastal Wetland of China
Authors: Xie Linping , Wang Baodong , Xin Ming , Wang Min , He Xiuping , Wei Qinsheng , Shi Xiaoyong , Sun Xia
Published: September 2019

Variations in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) of the vegetation in a Tamarix chinensis coastal wetland located in Laizhou Bay, China, are analyzed. It is found that T. chinensis accumulates more C and N than the surrounding herbs, and it allocates more C and N in the aboveground parts but less in the roots. Branches store more C, whereas leaves and flowers accumulate more N than other tissues. The C and N contents in the aboveground parts of T. chinensis are mainly influenced by pH, electrical conductivity (EC), water content, and clay content in the top 100 cm of soil as well as the distance from the sea. For the herbs, their C contents vary little in the supratidal zone, but they are higher than those in the intertidal zone. However, N contents in the herbs are higher in the aboveground parts and varied among different communities. The contents of C and N in the herbs are affected by EC, water content as well as the contents of organic C and total nitrogen (TN) in the top 10 cm of soil. The findings confirm that increasing the biomass of T. chinensis is an effective way to increase C sequestration in temperate coastal wetland.
High detectability with low impact: Optimizing large PIT tracking systems for cave‐dwelling bats
Authors: van Harten Emmi , Reardon Terry , Lumsden Lindy F. , Meyers Noel , Prowse Thomas A. A. , Weyland John , Lawrence Ruth
Published: September 2019

Passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag technology permits the “resighting” of animals tagged for ecological research without the need for physical re‐trapping. Whilst this is effective if animals pass within centimeters of tag readers, short‐distance detection capabilities have prevented the use of this technology with many species. To address this problem, we optimized a large (15 m long) flexible antenna system to provide a c. 8 m2 vertical detection plane for detecting animals in flight. We installed antennas at two roosting caves, including the primary maternity cave, of the critically endangered southern bent‐winged bat (Miniopterus orianae bassanii) in south‐eastern Australia. Testing of these systems indicated PIT‐tags could be detected up to 105 cm either side of the antenna plane. Over the course of a three‐year study, we subcutaneously PIT‐tagged 2,966 bats and logged over 1.4 million unique detections, with 97% of tagged bats detected at least once. The probability of encountering a tagged bat decreased with increasing environmental “noise” (unwanted signal) perceived by the system. During the study, we mitigated initial high noise levels by earthing both systems, which contributed to an increase in daily detection probability (based on the proportion of individuals known to be alive that were detected each day) from <0.2 (noise level ≥30%) to 0.7–0.8 (noise level 5%–15%). Conditional on a low (5%) noise level, model‐based estimates of daily encounter probability were highest (>0.8) during peak breeding season when both female and male southern bent‐winged bats congregate at the maternity cave. In this paper, we detail the methods employed and make methodological recommendations for future wildlife research using large antennas, including earthing systems as standard protocol and quantifying noise metrics as a covariate influencing the probability of detection in subsequent analyses. Our results demonstrate that large PIT antennas can be used successfully to detect small volant species, extending the scope of PIT technology and enabling a much broader range of wildlife species to be studied using this approach.
Moss and lichen asexual propagule dispersal may help to maintain the extant community in boreal forests
Authors: Pasiche‐Lisboa Carlos J. , Booth Tom , Belland René J. , Piercey‐Normore Michele D.
Published: September 2019

Asexual propagules produced by mosses and lichens may help to maintain their community composition in boreal forests. Understanding the factors affecting the deposition of asexual propagules and their link with the community composition may reveal how the community is maintained. The goal of this study was to understand how weather, the community of lichens and mosses, the dominant tree species in a stand, substrata, and tree aspect influenced and were linked to the deposition of asexual propagules (quantity, size, and type) in boreal forests. Species richness and cover were assessed for the substrata within the tree stands. Traps attached to trees and the ground (substrata) in balsam fir‐, white spruce‐, and poplar‐dominated stands were used to capture asexual propagules. Species and quantity of trapped asexual propagules were linked to the species richness and cover of the extant community. Propagules captured were dominated by lichen thallus fragments and were smaller and in higher quantities during colder times of the year, and in higher quantities and smaller sizes mostly on trees of conifer stands. Moss propagules were captured in low quantities compared to lichen propagules, on the forest floor, but mostly during warmer times of the year. The dispersal of mosses and lichen asexual propagules helps to maintain and is linked to their community in boreal forests. The linkage between asexual propagule deposition and the community (richness and abundance) was observed among lichen and moss communities on poplar trees, conifer trees, or the forest floor of boreal forest stands.
Evaluation of the effects of sodium–glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibition with empagliflozin on morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction: rationale for and design of the EMPEROR‐Preserved Trial
Authors: Anker Stefan D. , Butler Javed , Filippatos Gerasimos S. , Jamal Waheed , Salsali Afshin , Schnee Janet , Kimura Karen , Zeller Cordula , George Jyothis , Brueckmann Martina , Zannad Faiez , Packer Milton ,   on behalf of the EMPEROR‐Preserved Trial Committees and Investigators
Published: September 2019

Background

The principal biological processes that characterize heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are systemic inflammation, epicardial adipose tissue accumulation, coronary microcirculatory rarefaction, myocardial fibrosis and vascular stiffness; the resulting impairment of left ventricular and aortic distensibility (especially when accompanied by impaired glomerular function and sodium retention) causes increases in cardiac filling pressures and exertional dyspnoea despite the relative preservation of left ventricular ejection fraction. Independently of their actions on blood glucose, sodium–glucose co‐transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors exert a broad range of biological effects (including actions to inhibit cardiac inflammation and fibrosis, antagonize sodium retention and improve glomerular function) that can ameliorate the pathophysiological derangements in HFpEF. Such SGLT2 inhibitors exert favourable effects in experimental models of HFpEF and have been found in large‐scale trials to reduce the risk for serious heart failure events in patients with type 2 diabetes, many of whom were retrospectively identified as having HFpEF.

Study design

The EMPEROR‐Preserved Trial is enrolling ≈5750 patients with HFpEF (ejection fraction >40%), with and without type 2 diabetes, who are randomized to receive placebo or empagliflozin 10 mg/day, which is added to all appropriate treatments for HFpEF and co‐morbidities.

Study aims

The primary endpoint is the time‐to‐first‐event analysis of the combined risk for cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure. The trial will also evaluate the effects of empagliflozin on renal function, cardiovascular death,

all‐cause mortality and recurrent hospitalization events, and will assess a wide range of biomarkers that reflect important pathophysiological mechanisms that may drive the evolution of HFpEF. The EMPEROR‐Preserved Trial is well positioned to determine if empagliflozin can have a meaningful impact on the course of HFpEF, a disorder for which there are currently few therapeutic options.
To Cooperate or Not: The Role of Central Functionality in Bisthiourea [6]polynorbornane Hosts
Authors: Robson Ryan N. , Hay Benjamin P. , Pfeffer Frederick M.
Published: September 2019

Using fused [n]polynorbornane scaffolds functionalised at each end with a thiourea recognition unit a series of anion hosts of increasing length were constructed. The three longest [6]polynorbornyl hosts possessed central functionality to influence the binding cleft. The functional groups comprised (i) two methyl esters (ii) an unfunctionalised imide to introduce an additional N–H hydrogen‐bond donor and (iii) a largep‐anisole group to provide negative steric interactions. The family of bisthiourea hosts were evaluated for their ability to bind five aromatic dicarboxylate guests of varying shapes and lengths.
Evolutionary creativity in landscapes
Authors: Phillips Jonathan D.
Published: September 2019

In biological evolution, creativity occurs in the appearance of new entities by evolutionary dynamics. This is linked to mutations and genetic drift, which cannot occur in geophysical phenomena. Biota can exhibit evolutionary creativity that influences landforms, but how does creativity (defined here as the capacity for emergence of new entities that increase the adjustedness of the landscape to environmental conditions) occur in landforms and landscapes as entities independent of biota? Creativity in geomorphic evolution does not require any sort of goal functions or purposeful innovation – just that geomorphic development is capable of producing novelties that may be better adapted (more efficient or durable) than predecessors. Independently of biota, evidence exists that landforms may develop to become more or less ‘fit' in terms of efficiency and/or durability. Thus, emergence of novel features may lead to their persistence. Emergence of novel forms is illustrated for the case of karst sinkholes (dolines), which indicates increasing geomorphic diversity over Ma and Ga timescales. A case study of fluviokarst chronosequences in Kentucky demonstrates emergence and elimination of landforms as landscapes evolve. Some of these may represent generally (as opposed to locally) novel landforms. While this article is more suggestive than demonstrative, results strongly suggest evolutionary creativity in geomorphology both tied to, and independent of, biological evolution. This occurs due to emergence of geomorphic entities that are subject to selection that tends to increase efficiency and durability. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What Have We Learned?
Authors: Kinarsky Alana R. , Alkin Marvin C. , Christie Christina A.
Published: September 2019

In this chapter, the editors of the issue summarize the responses of four theorists—Patton, Scriven, House, and Boruch—to the Women Affirming Motherhood request for evaluation proposals. They highlight the similarities and differences and identify four major themes across responses: stakeholder engagement, use, collective impact, and methods.
Evaluation With a Focus on Justice
Authors: House Ernest R.
Published: September 2019

This chapter focuses on evaluations conducted through a social justice lens. Ernest House, who is located on the valuing branch of the Evaluation Theory Tree, focuses on justice as equality. He examines the Women Affirming Motherhood program description and considers what approaches might lead to an egalitarian evaluation that helps the program in its efforts to expand. In particular, House proposes a collaborative evaluation team, an investigation of causal factors including racial framing, and presentation of findings through compelling scenarios and stories.
Antimicrobial and aroma finishing of organic cotton knits using natural colourants and Palmarosa oil microcapsules
Authors: Kudligi Sannapapamma J , Malligawad Lokanath H , Naikwadi Sakeena , Jamadar Dilshad
Published: September 2019

Organic cotton SAHANA variety spun into 30s single yarn dyed with four natural colorants (Arecanut slurry, Eucalyptus leaves, Pomegranate rind and Indigo) and further used for development of single jersy knits. Palmarosa oil was used for the preparation of microcapsules through interfacial polymerization technique and finished on organic knitted fabric by exhaust and pad dry cure methods. The finished organic knit was assessed for effect of laundering on antimicrobial efficiency and aroma intensity. The TGA of Palmarosa microcapsules was found to be better with minimum weight loss at higher temperature than the pure oil, and the morphology of microcapsules was fairly irregular due to preparation conditions. Among the natural colourants, cotton yarn dyed with indigo dye possessed greater colour strength and lesser reflectance than the other dyed samples. The fastness properties of cotton yarn dyed with arecanut slurry exhibited good to excellent colour fastness to washing and sunlight. Irrespective of methods of application, organic cotton knits finished with microcapsules by pad dry cure method showed maximum zone of inhibition compared to knits finished by exhaust method against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The antimicrobial activity of the finished samples was subjected to multiple washing which indicated that knits finished with pad dry cure method showed a zone of inhibition even after 20th wash and better aroma retention compared to knits finished with exhaust method of application. Thus, the Palmarosa microencapsulated organic cotton knits are free from hazardous chemicals and have multi functional properties which can be suitable for medical and healthcare textiles.
Production of physician services under fee‐for‐service and blended fee‐for‐service: Evidence from Ontario, Canada
Authors: Somé Nibene H. , Devlin Rose Anne , Mehta Nirav , Zaric Greg , Li Lihua , Shariff Salimah , Belhadji Bachir , Thind Amardeep , Garg Amit , Sarma Sisira
Published: September 2019

We examine family physicians' responses to financial incentives for medical services in Ontario, Canada. We use administrative data covering 2003–2008, a period during which family physicians could choose between the traditional fee for service (FFS) and blended FFS known as the Family Health Group (FHG) model. Under FHG, FFS physicians are incentivized to provide comprehensive care and after‐hours services. A two‐stage estimation strategy teases out the impact of switching from FFS to FHG on service production. We account for the selection into FHG using a propensity score matching model, and then we use panel‐data regression models to account for observed and unobserved heterogeneity. Our results reveal that switching from FFS to FHG increases comprehensive care, after‐hours, and nonincentivized services by 3%, 15%, and 4% per annum. We also find that blended FFS physicians provide more services by working additional total days as well as the number of days during holidays and weekends. Our results are robust to a variety of specifications and alternative matching methods. We conclude that switching from FFS to blended FFS improves patients' access to after‐hours care, but the incentive to nudge service production at the intensive margin is somewhat limited.
Different reactivation procedures enable or prevent episodic memory updating
Authors: Scully Iiona D. , Hupbach Almut
Published: September 2019

The present study asked whether the specific method of reactivation modulates the impact of new learning on reactivated episodic memories. The study consisted of three sessions that were spaced 48 hr apart. It used an ABAC paradigm that allowed for the simultaneous assessment of retroactive interference (RI: reduced A–B recall after A–C learning) and intrusions from C into A–B recall. In Session 1, participants learned a list of paired‐associates A–B. In Session 2, memory for A–B was reactivated or not and then participants either learned a second list of paired‐associates A–C or completed a control task. Three different reminder conditions were compared to a no‐reminder condition: a test condition, in which participants were asked to recall B in response to A, a restudy condition, in which A–B pairs were presented again for study, and a cue‐word only reminder condition, in which A cues were presented in an unrelated rating task. In Session 3, recall of A–B was tested. Moderate or indirect reactivation of A–B (presentation of cue‐words only) resulted in high RI effects and intrusion rates, whereas strong and direct reactivation (test and restudy) drastically reduced these effects. We suggest that direct reactivation of A–B before A–C learning strengthens memory and draws attention to list differences, thereby enhancing list segregation, and reducing memory updating.
Systemic mastocytosis associated with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms with ring sideroblasts and thrombocytosis: Report of three cases
Authors: Mimiola Elda , Bomben Riccardo , De Matteis Giovanna , Perbellini Omar , Guglielmelli Paola , Bonifacio Massimiliano , Parisi Alice , Gattei Valter , Zamò Alberto , Mannelli Francesco , García Montero Andrés Celestino , Zanotti Roberta
Published: September 2019

The association of systemic mastocytosis with another hematologic neoplasia of myeloid or lymphoid origin is recognized as an advanced subvariant of mastocytosis. Here, we report the association of indolent or smoldering systemic mastocytosis with three cases of myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms with ring sideroblasts and thrombocytosis, a recently recognized disease characterized by SF3B1 mutations. The hierarchical pattern of KIT, SF3B1, JAK2, and additional mutations was studied in whole and fractionated subpopulations of peripheral blood cells and whole bone marrow. In two cases, we could demonstrate a multilineage D816V KIT mutation, involving all myeloid lineages in one patient and also the lymphoid series in the other. Two patients displaying both SF3B1 and V617F JAK2 mutations had a very poor prognosis. Another patient bearing SF3B1, but not V617F JAK2 mutation, had a favorable response to erythropoietin treatment and long survival.
Consumption of meat, traditional and modern processed meat and colorectal cancer risk among the Moroccan population: A large‐scale case–control study
Authors: S. Deoula Meimouna , El Kinany Khaoula , Huybrechts Inge , Gunter Marc J. , Hatime Zineb , Boudouaya Hanae A. , Benslimane Abdelilah , Nejjari Chakib , El Abkari Mohammed , Badre Wafaa , El Feydi Abdellah E. , Afkir Saîd , Abda Naima , El Rhazi Karima
Published: September 2019

The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between red and white meat subtypes, processed meat (divided into traditional “Khlii, Kaddid” and industrially processed meat) and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, considering CRC subsites, in Moroccan adults. A case–control study was conducted including 2,906 matched case–control pairs recruited from the five largest university hospitals in Morocco. Dietary data were collected through a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Multivariable odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), for the association of CRC risk with meat consumption (high vs. low intake), were estimated using conditional logistic regression models, adjusted for relevant confounding variables. Overall, consumption of red meat was positively associated with colon cancer and CRC risk (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.05–1.44; OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.02–1.27), respectively. In contrast, no significant association was observed between the consumption of red meat and rectal cancer risk (OR = 1.05, 95% = 0.90–1.23). Interestingly, while processed meat from industrial processes was positively associated with colon cancer, rectal cancer and CRC (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.27–2.04; OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.34–2.23; OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.41–1.98), processed meat prepared using traditional methods was inversely associated with colon cancer and CRC risk (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.57–0.98; OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.64–0.93), respectively. Furthermore, positive associations were observed between poultry intake and colon cancer risk among men (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.01–1.59). Our study showed similar associations between the consumption of red meat and CRC risk in Morocco as in developed countries, while inverse associations were found for traditionally processed meat products. This is the first study to investigate the differential effects of traditional vs. westernized processed meat products in a developing country. Other studies are needed to confirm these findings and to understand the physiological pathways underlying these associations.
Associations between prenatal maternal mental health indices and mother–infant relationship quality 6 to 18 months’ postpartum: A systematic review
Authors: Hazell Raine Karen , Nath Selina , Howard Louise M. , Cockshaw Wendell , Boyce Philip , Sawyer Emily , Thorpe Karen
Published: September 2019

Maternal mental disorders can significantly impact on children's psychosocial and psychological development, incurring substantial ongoing economic and personal costs. A key mediating mechanism is mother–infant relationship quality (MIRQ). Research studies and perinatal mental health screening initiatives have predominantly focused on depressive symptoms and perinatal depression as predictors of MIRQ. While maternal depression is associated with suboptimal MIRQ, the findings have not been consistent. Personality characteristics are associated with parenting and proneness to depression, presenting a potential addition to prenatal mental health assessment. We conducted a systematic review of studies that have examined the link between prenatal depressive symptoms and/or personality characteristics with postnatal MIRQ. Our findings suggest that both maternal personality traits and depressive symptoms measured in early pregnancy are associated with postnatal MIRQ. A measure of personality characteristics may enhance prenatal mental health assessment, affording opportunities for targeted intervention commencing in pregnancy to improve MIRQ, parenting, maternal mental health outcomes, and infant psychosocial and psychological development, and thereby contributing to the reduction of human and economic cost burdens.
Implementation of Nepal's education policy in ICT: Examining current practice through an ecological model
Authors: Rana Karna , Greenwood Janinka , Fox‐Turnbull Wendy
Published: September 2019

Educational policy implementation can be conceptualised in terms of an ecological model that explores roles and relationships within a complex evolving environment. This article draws on an ecological model to examine Nepal's implementation of its policy for information and communication technology in education. The policy is developed by government and mandated to schools, but government does not commit funding to resource infrastructures or train teachers in information and communication technology (ICT) use. Instead, nongovernment organisations (NGOs) have stepped in and provided resources and training. Thus, two separate systems have evolved. This article examines their actions and interactions as components within an ecology. It utilises a methodological approach that involves qualitative case studies of particular rural schools, analysed through interpretive phenomenological analysis and the lens of an ecology model. It reports findings of how a largely symbiotic relationship has evolved that is somewhat successful in meeting immediate needs and examines changes that are developing in the ecology and that may impact on the future of ICT implementation in Nepal. The study contributes to practical understanding of the potentially symbiotic roles of NGOs and government in ICT provision to rural schools in Nepal. It further contributes to ways policy implementation in developing countries may be theorised.
A Rare Mutation in SMAD9 Associated With High Bone Mass Identifies the SMAD-Dependent BMP Signaling Pathway as a Potential Anabolic Target for Osteoporosis
Authors: Gregson Celia L , Bergen Dylan J. M. , Leo Paul , Sessions Richard B , Wheeler Lawrie , Hartley April , Youlten Scott , Croucher Peter I , McInerney-Leo Aideen M , Fraser William , Tang Jonathan CY , Anderson Lisa , Marshall Mhairi , Sergot Leon , Paternoster Lavinia , Davey Smith George ,   The AOGC Consortium, Brown Matthew A , Hammond Chrissy , Kemp John P , Tobias Jon H , Duncan Emma L
Published: September 2019

Novel anabolic drug targets are needed to treat osteoporosis. Having established a large national cohort with unexplained high bone mass (HBM), we aimed to identify a novel monogenic cause of HBM and provide insight into a regulatory pathway potentially amenable to therapeutic intervention. We investigated a pedigree with unexplained HBM in whom previous sequencing had excluded known causes of monogenic HBM. Whole exome sequencing identified a rare (minor allele frequency 0.0023), highly evolutionarily conserved missense mutation in SMAD9 (c.65T>C, p.Leu22Pro) segregating with HBM in this autosomal dominant family. The same mutation was identified in another two unrelated individuals both with HBM. In silico protein modeling predicts the mutation severely disrupts the MH1 DNA-binding domain of SMAD9. Affected individuals have bone mineral density (BMD) Z-scores +3 to +5, mandible enlargement, a broad frame, torus palatinus/mandibularis, pes planus, increased shoe size, and a tendency to sink when swimming. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) measurement demonstrates increased trabecular volumetric BMD and increased cortical thickness conferring greater predicted bone strength; bone turnover markers are low/normal. Notably, fractures and nerve compression are not found. Both genome-wide and gene-based association testing involving estimated BMD measured at the heel in 362,924 white British subjects from the UK Biobank Study showed strong associations with SMAD9 (PGWAS = 6 × 10−16; PGENE = 8 × 10−17). Furthermore, we found Smad9 to be highly expressed in both murine cortical bone–derived osteocytes and skeletal elements of zebrafish larvae. Our findings support SMAD9 as a novel HBM gene and a potential novel osteoanabolic target for osteoporosis therapeutics. SMAD9 is thought to inhibit bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-dependent target gene transcription to reduce osteoblast activity. Thus, we hypothesize SMAD9 c.65T>C is a loss-of-function mutation reducing BMP inhibition. Lowering SMAD9 as a potential novel anabolic mechanism for osteoporosis therapeutics warrants further investigation. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Hierarchical resurgence
Authors: Lattal Kennon A. , Solley Elizabeth A. , Cançado Carlos R. X. , Oliver Anthony C.
Published: September 2019

In resurgence, conventionally a target response is trained and then extinguished while some alternative response is reinforced. In the most common procedure, when the latter is extinguished, the former resurges. The present experiments examined resurgence after two responses were trained sequentially and subsequently extinguished. In Experiments 1 and 2, keypecking to one key was trained and then extinguished as keypecking to a different key was trained then later extinguished. In both experiments, regardless of the spatial location of the different keys, the last‐trained response resurged before the first‐trained one. The results were replicated in Experiment 3 where reinforcement rate of the first‐trained response was four times that of the second‐trained response. The results in conjunction with earlier experiments suggest that resurgence occurs hierarchically, although whether more or less recently trained target responses resurge first or later may depend on both current and historical variables. The results also raise questions about the interpretation of responding on a control key that sometimes is included in resurgence experiments to isolate resurgence from extinction‐induced responding.
Mass spectrometry imaging of triglycerides in biological tissues by laser desorption ionization from silicon nanopost arrays
Authors: Fincher Jarod A. , Korte Andrew R. , Dyer Jacqueline E. , Yadavilli Sridevi , Morris Nicholas J. , Jones Derek R. , Shanmugam Victoria K. , Pirlo Russel K. , Vertes Akos
Published: September 2019

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is used increasingly to simultaneously detect a broad range of biomolecules while mapping their spatial distributions within biological tissue sections. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is recognized as the method‐of‐choice for MSI applications due in part to its broad molecular coverage. In spite of the remarkable advantages offered by MALDI, imaging of neutral lipids, such as triglycerides (TGs), from tissue has remained a significant challenge due to ion suppression of TGs by phospholipids, e.g. phosphatidylcholines (PCs). To help overcome this limitation, silicon nanopost array (NAPA) substrates were introduced to selectively ionize TGs from biological tissue sections. This matrix‐free laser desorption ionization (LDI) platform was previously shown to provide enhanced ionization of certain lipid classes, such as hexosylceramides (HexCers) and phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) from mouse brain tissue. In this work, we present NAPA as an MSI platform offering enhanced ionization efficiency for TGs from biological tissues relative to MALDI, allowing it to serve as a complement to MALDI‐MSI. Analysis of a standard lipid mixture containing PC(18:1/18:1) and TG(16:0/16:0/16:0) by LDI from NAPA provided an ~49 and ~227‐fold higher signal for TG(16:0/16:0/16:0) relative to MALDI, when analyzed without and with the addition of a sodium acetate, respectively. In contrast, MALDI provided an ~757 and ~295‐fold higher signal for PC(18:1/18:1) compared with NAPA, without and with additional Na+. Averaged signal intensities for TGs from MSI of mouse lung and human skin tissues exhibited an ~105 and ~49‐fold increase, respectively, with LDI from NAPA compared with MALDI. With respect to PCs, MALDI provided an ~2 and ~19‐fold increase in signal intensity for mouse lung and human skin tissues, respectively, when compared with NAPA. The complementary coverage obtained by the two platforms demonstrates the utility of using both techniques to maximize the information obtained from lipid MS or MSI experiments.
Effects of the integration of mixed‐cropping and rice–duck co‐culture on rice yield and soil nutrients in southern China
Authors: Li Meijuan , Li Ronghua , Zhang Jiaen , Wu Tiehang , Liu Shiwei , Hei Zewen , Qiu Shuqing
Published: September 2019

BACKGROUND

Biodiversity‐based agricultural systems can improve production efficiency and sustainability, with fewer negative environmental impacts and lower use of external inputs. Mixed‐cropping and rice‐duck co‐culture have been shown to produce ecological benefits and to have positive effects on paddy soil. However, the effects of a combination of mixed cropping with different rice cultivars and duck co‐culture on soil nutrients availability and grain yields have not been evaluated. A paddy field experiment was carried out over two rice growing seasons to test these effects.

RESULTS

Several combinations of rice cultivars, when integrated with duck co‐culture, significantly increased the soil organic matter and total nitrogen contents during the rice growing seasons, as compared to mono‐cropping systems. In mixed‐cropping combined with duck co‐culture (MCDC) systems, the soil alkali‐hydrolyzable nitrogen content ranged from 4.33% to 17.86% higher than that in mono‐cropping systems. Similar increases were found for soil available phosphorus (8.71–15.91%) and soil available potassium (8.65–39.43%) contents. Furthermore, MCDC produced higher grain yields and harvest indexes for both study seasons.

CONCLUSION

The integration of MCDC systems had positive effects on soil nutrient contents of paddy fields, which could, in turn, lead to yield enhancements, as well as additional income for farmers in the form of organic duck meat. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry