bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decadal Changes in the Leading Patterns of Sea Level Pressure in the
Arctic and Their Impacts on the Sea Ice Variability in Boreal Summer
Authors: Choi Nakbin , Kim Kyu-Myong , Lim Young-Kwon , Lee Myong-In
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Besides its negative trend, the interannual and the interdecadal changes in the Arctic sea ice are also pronounced in recent decades. The three leading modes in the sea level pressure (SLP) variability in the Arctic (70°–90 °N) – the Arctic Oscillation (AO), the Arctic Dipole (AD), and the third mode (A3) – are analyzed to understand the linkage between sea ice variability and large-scale atmospheric circulation in boreal summer (June–August). This study also compares the decadal changes of the modes between the early (1982–1997) and the recent (1998–2017) periods and their influences on the Arctic sea ice extent (SIE). Only the AD mode shows a significant correlation increase with SIE from −0.05 in the early period to 0.57 in the recent period. The AO and the A3 modes show a less significant relationship with SIE for the two periods. The AD is characterized by a dipole pattern of SLP, which modulates the strength of meridional surface winds and the transpolar drift stream (TDS). The major circulation change in the late 1990s is that the direction of the wind has been changed more meridionally over the exit region of the Fram Strait, which causes sea ice drift and discharge through that region. The analysis also reveals that the zonal shift of the centers of SLP anomalies and associated circulation change affects a significant reduction in sea ice concentration over the Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean. This study further suggests that the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) phase change could influence the spatial pattern change in the AD.
2018 WA Lee Equity Lecture: Equity in an Age of Uncertainty
Authors: Russell David
Published: March 2019

May I commence by acknowledging the honour done to me by asking me to give this, the nineteenth WA Lee lecture. I studied Equity, in part, under Professor Lee and he was a prominent member of the teaching community at my University College. 

At that time, and later, I came to appreciate the extent to which his reputation was established, not just in Australia, but throughout the common law world. Perhaps the most telling of a number of indications, once publications such as the masterful Ford & Lee are put to one side, is the fact that when Donovan Waters QC, former Oxford don, STEP Honorary Member and one of the negotiators of the Hague Trust Convention,[1] visited Australia as a guest of STEP, the one Australian he specifically asked us to arrange for him to meet was Tony Lee. 

So to give this lecture before an audience including Tony Lee fills me with not a little trepidation. He – and no doubt many others of you – will be immediately aware of any errors or imperfections.  It is small consolation that, on this occasion at least, he will not be marking the paper.
“You feel you don’t actually belong:” Attending High School in the Sioux Lookout Zone, 1969-1996
Authors: De Pencier North , Puppe Ian , Davis Carrie , Dhawan Drishti , Somasundaram Mithila , McKinley Gerald
Published: March 2019

From 1969-1996, in the Sioux Lookout Zone of Northwestern Ontario, there were no local high schools, and teenagers travelled to boarding schools in larger communities further south. During these years, the University of Toronto coordinated medical services in the Sioux Lookout Zone, and many documents in the University of Toronto Archives capture the challenges faced by adolescents from the Zone while pursuing a high school education. In this paper, I use Indigenous voices in the records of the Sioux Lookout Zone Hospital to study the experience of going to high school from the perspective of the Social Determinants of Health. I argue that the poor quality of on-reserve elementary schools and the isolation of leaving home for high school combined with less time to learn traditional skills to set students up for failure in their academic studies.
CSTAR, Robotics, and Minimally Invasive Surgery: An Interview with Dr. Christopher Schlachta
Authors: Dzongowski Emily , D'Andrea Dino
Published: March 2019

Dr. Schlachta received his undergraduate and medical degrees from McGill University. With a keen interest in various types of surgery, he then completed a surgery internship at Toronto General Hospital before choosing to pursue residency in general surgery here at Western. Subsequently, he returned to Toronto for a fellowship in advanced minimally invasive surgery and subsequently worked as a staff surgeon at the Wellesley Hospital and St. Michael’s Hospital, where he was the head of the division. Finally, Dr. Schlachta was recruited back to London to serve as the medical director of Canadian Surgical Technologies & Advanced Robotics (CSTAR) in 2005. He presently holds this position, as well as cross-appointment as a Professor in the Departments of Surgery and Oncology. He has been involved in numerous Canadian and world firsts in robotic gastrointestinal surgery. We had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Schlachta to discuss his surgical practice, current research, and the technology at CSTAR.
Using Gamification to Break Barriers in Physical Therapy
Authors: Al-Nasri Iyad , Salim Shahan
Published: March 2019

Adherence to physical therapy can have a significant positive impact on the outcome of treatment, but remains a challenge for both clinicians and patients. Ubiquitous and accessible technologies such as video games and virtual reality (VR) can help to increase adherence in physical therapy, but adoption of these technologies is a barrier in itself. As such, health care professionals must play a larger role in game and simulation design in order for these interventions to be used in removing barriers to adherence.
Brain controlled robotic arms - advancements in prosthetic technology
Authors: Wong Sean , Gui Chloe
Published: March 2019

A prosthesis is a medical tool used to replace a missing body part. They are designed to restore both functionality and form to the patient user. There has been a rich history in the field or prosthetics extending back centuries. However, recent advancements have led to the development of more sophisticated and innovative prosthetic technology, such as the brain controlled myoelectric prosthetic limb. While current prosthesis options such as the passive prosthetic and body-powered prosthetic have their respective limitations, the myoelectric prosthetic limb offers an unheralded level of functionality for patients. This article will seek to discuss current and ongoing advancements in the field of prosthetics, with specific regards to artificial limbs. There will be discussion of the history of prosthesis and current prosthesis options for patients, with assessment of their respective benefits and limitations.
Cost-Effectiveness of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Authors: Piccininni Caroline Rose
Published: March 2019

New technologies, especially those based in robotics and artificial intelligence, have potential to vastly change how healthcare is delivered from managing patient information to diagnosis and prognosis to performing medical procedures. Such technologies are constantly being developed, trialed, and implemented and thus, many have yet to be investigated in terms of long-term costs and effects. Using robot-assisted prostatectomy as an example, this article explores how new technologies are often associated with high initial costs and positive short-term effects but their long-term cost-effectiveness remains unknown. This idea has important implications for widespread implementation of new technologies and for clinical decision making.
The Influence of Framing Effects on Consumer Decision-Making on Online Platforms
Authors: Hu Yiyang , Li Yixuan
Published: March 2019

Focusing on online electronics sales and online travel service customization, the present research employed two experiments to examine the framing effects on consumer decision making in the context of internet marketing. Study1 showed that combined (vs. partitioned) pricing strategy can promote consumers’ purchase intention on e-commerce platforms. Study 2 demonstrated that downgrade (vs. upgrade) framing approach can lead to higher total sum price and less change on the default package in travel package customization settings. The results have significantly implications for marketing management in the context of internet marketing.
Improving Oral Communicative Competence in English Using Project-Based Learning Activities
Authors: Abu Bakar Noor Idayu , Noordin Nooreen , Razali Abu Bakar
Published: March 2019

The quasi-experimental study investigated the effectiveness of using project-based learning (PjBL) activities as a teaching strategy in improving the oral communicative competence of Malaysian English language learners. The participants included 44 diploma students enrolled in a Communicative English course at a technical college in the Peninsular Malaysia, who were purposely selected for the study. The intervention comprised a 12-week lessons taught using PjBL teaching strategy and centred on eight PjBL activities. Data were collected using a speaking test and a listening test, which were administered as pre-tests and post-tests, and a student questionnaire which was administered at the end of the study. Data analysis involved the procedure of MANOVA, as well as descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and percentage. The findings revealed a significant improvement in the learners’ overall oral communicative competence and a high perception of PjBL by the learners. It is concluded that PjBL teaching strategy is effective in improving the oral communicative competence of the English language learners. The study recommends the use of PjBL as a suitable English language teaching strategy for technical students who are generally low proficient English language learners.
Employee Theft among College Students in the Workforce
Authors: Ruankaew Thanasak
Published: March 2019

Employee theft costs organizations billions of dollars annually. Despite the severity of employee theft, previous research has not focused on the specific demographics of employees who commit this crime. The number of college students in the workforce has increased over the years; thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the serious problem of employee theft, particularly in relation to the college student population. A survey was used to collect data from college students to indicate employee theft activities among them. Employee theft activities were categorized as follows: time theft, property theft, embezzlement, pilferage, and data and trade secret theft. Survey responses from 92 students indicated that the majority committed time theft, followed by property theft, pilferage, data and trade secret theft, and embezzlement, respectively. This study adds valuable information for businesses and practitioners to understand the severity of employee theft among the increasing number of college students in the workforce.
The long-Run and Short-Run Analysis between Stock Market Index and Macroeconomic Variables in Jordan: Bounds Tests Approach
Authors: Al-Smadi Raed Walid , Omoush Muthana Mohammad
Published: March 2019

This paper investigates the long-run and short-run relationship between stock market index and the macroeconomic variables in Jordan. Annual time series data for the 1978–2017 periods and the ARDL bounding test are used. The results identify long-run equilibrium relationship between stock market index and the macroeconomic variables in Jordan. Jordanian policy makers have to pay more attention to the current regulation in the Amman Stock Exchange(ASE) and manage it well, thus ultimately helping financial development.
Forced Vibration Numerical Analysis of Reticulate Systems by Dynamic Finite Element Method
Authors: Passoli Olivier A. , Olodo Emmanuel E. T. , Doko Valery K. , Ale Georges , Adjovi Edmond C.
Published: March 2019

This work is devoted to forced vibration numerical analysis of reticulate bar systems. The dynamic finite element method was used for determination of frequencies, displacement amplitudes, rotation angles and the dynamic effort factors. By this method the components of the dynamic rigidity matrix and inertia matrix depend on applied external excitation frequency. Obtained results are compared with those calculated by the classical finite element method as well as by analytical method. It is shown that the dynamic finite element allows for exact solutions to the problems in forced vibration of structures. Accuracy of dynamic finite element solution is verified through obtaining analytical solutions on simple systems. In case of complex systems where analytical calculations are complicated the dynamic finite element can become a universal tool for dynamic analysis.
Развитие института взаимного признания и исполнения судебных решений в странах Европейского Союза
Authors: Maystrovich Elena , Kucheryavaya Elena
Published: March 2019

The free movement of judicial decisions on the territory of the European Union presupposes a high level of mutual trust between the judicial bodies of the Member States. From the citizens’ point of view, the key issue is the balance between the rights of the plaintiffs and the defendants, i.e. the right to access to justice (to sue) and the right to defence. Mutual trust between the judiciary can be built in various ways. Firstly, through the creation of a unified European procedure in the form of additional tools held before the adjudication and based on the general rules of procedure. Secondly, through sectoral harmonisation of procedural law within the framework of solving individual issues in accordance with a step-by-step approach. Thirdly, it is necessary to create common standards, in the form of principles and rules, regulations and directives. The Author in this article analyses the main ways of creating uniformity of norms applied in the territory of the European Union, the most suitable for the institution of mutual recognition and enforcement of judgments. The process of legal development of the institution of mutual recognition and enforcement of judgments and its current status are considered.
Europejska inicjatywa obywatelska. Nieefektywnie wykorzystane pokłady społecznej aktywności
Authors: Zdanowicz Mieczysława
Published: March 2019

The main purpose of this article is the analysis of the practice of using the European citizens’ initiative. Initiatives which were refused for registration; withdrawn; and those with insufficient support were analysed. Conducted research shows that it is valuable initiative for democratisation of the European Union. However, high ratio of refusal of registration and low quantity of successful initiatives indicates necessity of carrying out changes in current law.
Senat Republiki Czeskiej
Authors: Skotnicki Krzysztof
Published: March 2019

The article analyses the institution of the Senate as one of the chambers of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. The asymmetrical bicameralism conception adopted in 1992 refers to the solution of the Constitution of 1920. The internal organisation and the manner of work as well as the parliamentary mandate are typical for a democratic state. The basic function of the Senate is legislation, but the final decisions belong to the Chamber of Deputies. The equalisation of the position of both chambers is an exception. The second chamber does not have a control function, and the creative function is symbolic. The Senate has become established in the system of state organs.
Application of polymer impression masses for the obtaining of dental working models for the stereolithographic 3D printing
Authors: Dobrzański L.B. , Achtelik-Franczak A. , Dobrzańska J. , Pietrucha P.
Published: March 2019

Application of polymer impression masses for the obtaining of dental working models for the stereolithographic 3D printing
Critical Thinking and Ideology in Chinese Higher Education
Authors: Du Xiaoxin
Published: March 2019

This article takes Fudan University in Shanghai, China, as an example to show the complex interaction among players in the process of socialization through political education and academic affairs. The roles of teachers have been split between enforcing political socialization and pursuing academic freedom—alternating between obediently observing political bottom lines and attempting to expand the scope of their academic autonomy.
Performance comparison of six Data mining models for soft churn customer prediction in Telecom
Authors: Mandić Marin , Kraljević Goran , Boban Ivan
Published: March 2019

Due to a high competition in the market, the telecom operators are affected by churn, therefore it is very important for them to identify which users are likely to leave them and switch to the competition telecom company. This research uses data on behaviour of the users from telecom systems that serve to identify patterns in behaviours and thereby recognize the churn. Creating new definition of prepaid soft churn based on multiple conditions is valuable contribution of this paper. At preparing data, a selection of useful attributes was made using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The normalization of the attribute values has also been made in order to obtain a proper balance of the influence of all the attributes. Common problem with telecom churn prediction data is imbalance, taking into account the target variable. Such a case is also in the data used in this paper, where the percentage of churners is 12%. Comparison of undersampling and oversampling was performed as a method for resolving the data imbalance problem. Data sets with undersampling and oversasmpling have been used to train the decision tree, logistic regression and neural network algorithms and therefore six prediction models for detecting the churn of the Prepaid users in the telecom were created in this paper. Performance analysis and comparison of the six developed Data mining models was also performed.
Artifacts in dependency structures of Portapres® signals
Authors: Mozetić Marko , Škorić Tamara , Antelj Jelena , Otašević Katarina , Milovanović Branislav , Bajić Dragana
Published: March 2019

Portapres® is a unique device that reliably accomplishes a challenging task of continuous and non-invasive recording ofblood pressure (BP) waveforms in moving subjects. The complex procedure of Portapres® signal acquisition includes periodic changesof cuffed fingers to avoid pain and stress, as well as the blood pressure correction due to the increasing and decreasing elevation of armposture. Due to these procedures, the recorded waveforms are corrupted. The aim of this paper is to analyze the influence of inevitableartifacts on parameters obtained from the blood pressure waveforms. The analyzed waveforms are obtained from healthy volunteers atBezanija Kosa Hospital, Belgrade. The parameters include systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse interval (PI) extracted byBeatscope® software. The interrelationship of SBP and PI signals forms a major cardiovascular feedback – baroreflex. It can beanalyzed using the sequence method for spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity, but the tools that reveal more profound dependencystructures include cross-approximate and cross-sample entropy, as well as the copula structures. The influence of artifacts, inevitable inPortapres® signals, is the main goal of this study. The analyses revealed that automatic artifact correction induced no significantchanges considering the statistical moments and the baroreflex sensitivity; the same applies to the copula density and rank tests. Theentropy analysis, however, turned out to be extremely sensitive so its implementation in Portapres® signal analysis is not recommended.
Prediction of clusters of miRNA binding sites in mRNA candidate genes of breast cancer
Authors: Aisina Dana , Niyazova Raigul , Atambayeva Shara , Ivashchenko Anatoliy
Published: March 2019

Distinct sets of candidate genes control the development of breast cancer subtypes. The expression of many genes is regulated by the binding of their mRNAs with miRNAs. The prediction of miRNA associations and target genes is essential in studying of breast cancer. The MirTarget program defines the following features of binding miRNA to mRNA: the start of the initiation of miRNA binding to mRNA; the localization of miRNA binding sites in 5'-untranslated regions (5'UTR), coding domain sequences (CDS) and 3'-untranslated regions (3'UTR); the free energy of binding of all miRNA nucleotides with mRNA; the schemes of interactions of all miRNAs nucleotides with mRNAs. The mRNAs of many genes have clusters (miRNA binding sites with overlapping nucleotide sequences) located in 5'UTR, CDS, or 3'UTR. There are clusters in 5'UTR of mRNA EPOR, MAZ and NISCH candidate genes of HER2 subtype. There are four clusters in CDS of mRNA MAZ gene, and in 3'UTR of mRNA BRCA2 and CDK6 genes. Candidate genes of triple-negative subtype are targets for multiple miRNAs. In 5'UTR of mRNA СBL gene, there are 11 sites; the mRNA for MMP2 gene contains five sites; the mRNA of RAB5A gene contains two clusters each of three sites. In 3'UTR of mRNA SFN gene, there are two clusters, each of three sites, and one cluster of 21 sites. Candidate genes of luminal A and B subtypes are targets for miRNAs: there are 21 sites in 5'UTR of mRNA FOXA1 gene and mRNA HMGA2 gene contains 15 sites. There are clusters of five sites in CDS of mRNA ITGB1 gene and five sites in 3'UTR of mRNA SOX4 genes. Clusters of eight sites and ten sites are identified in 3'UTR of mRNA SMAD3 and TGFB1 genes, respectively. The organization of miRNA binding sites into clusters reduces the proportion of nucleotide binding sites in 5'UTR, CDS and 3'UTRs. This overlapping of miRNA binding sites creates a competition among miRNAs for the binding site. From 6,272 studied miRNAs only 29 miRNAs from miRBase and 88 novel miRNAs have binding sites in clusters of mRNA target genes of breast cancer.
Estimating nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in streams and rivers across the contiguous United States: a machine learning framework
Authors: Shen Longzhu , Amatulli Giuseppe , Sethi Tushar , Raymond Peter , Domisch Sami
Published: March 2019

Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) are essential nutrients for life processes in water bodies but in excessive quantities, they are a significant source of aquatic pollution. Eutrophication has now become widespread due to such an imbalance, and is largely attributed to anthropogenic activity. In view of this phenomenon, we present a new dataset and statistical method for estimating and mapping elemental and compound con- centrations of N and P at a resolution of 30 arc-seconds (∼1 km) for the conterminous US. The model is based on a Random Forest (RF) machine learning algorithm that was fitted with environmental variables and seasonal N and P concentration observations from 230,000 stations spanning across US stream networks. Accounting for spatial and temporal variability offers improved accuracy in the analysis of N and P cycles. The algorithm has been validated with an internal and external validation procedure that is able to explain 70-83% of the variance in the model. The dataset is ready for use as input in a variety of environmental models and analyses, and the methodological framework can be applied to large-scale studies on N and P pollution, which include water quality, species distribution and water ecology research worldwide.
Production and Evaluation of Breakfast Cereals from Flour Blends of Maize (Zea mays) and Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) Seeds
Authors: Odimegwu Nkiru E. , Ofoedu Chigozie E. , Omeire Gloria C. , Umelo Munachiso C. , Eluchie Chioma N. , Alagbaoso Serah O. , Njoku Njideka E. , Ozoani Peace O.
Published: March 2019

Aim: Jackfruit is an underutilized tropical and subtropical fruit that is consistently lost to wastages and postharvest losses, neither has it gained substantial research attention. Therefore, the study is aimed at the production and evaluation of breakfast cereals formulated from composite blends of maize flour and jackfruit seed flour.

Study Design: This study was made to fit into a one way Analysis of Variance.

Place and Duration of Study: The research was carried out at the Department of Food Science and Technology laboratory, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria, between February 2018 and October 2018.

Methodology: Flaked breakfast cereals were produced from blends of different ratios of Maize flour to Jackfruit seed flour. The formulated breakfast cereal products were evaluated for proximate composition, functional properties, anti-nutritional properties, mineral content and sensory properties.

Results: The mineral content of the formulated breakfast cereals showed significant difference (P<0.05) in Ca(156.23-184.14mg/100g), Mg (179.28-207.81mg/100g), K(70.62-78.53mg/100g), Fe(4.01-5.46mg/100g), Na(9.44-10.66mg/100g), Zn(1.72-2.29mg/100g) and P(10.38-13.62mg/100g). The moisture content (3.83 - 4.14%) of the formulated products was acceptable for shelf life extension of the flaked breakfast cereal products. Protein, ash, crude fiber and fat content of the formulated breakfast cereal products increased with increased addition of jackfruit seed flour while the carbohydrate and energy value of the formulated products decreased with increased addition of jackfruit seed flour. Bulk density and water absorption capacity of the formulated products increased with increased addition of jackfruit seed flour while oil absorption capacity, foam capacity, viscosity and gelation capacity decreased with increased addition of jackfruit seed flour. Processing method significantly reduced the relatively high level of anti-nutrients associated with Jackfruit seed. Panelist preference increased with a corresponding decrease in jackfruit seed flour addition.

Conclusion: Utilization of jackfruit in food product development may solve the problem of wastage and postharvest losses associated with this fruit.
Influence of Storage Duration on The Toxicity of Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) Oil to Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Authors: Holtz Anderson Mathias , De Carvalho José Romário , Cofler Tatiane Pereira , Da Rocha Claudiane Martins , De Oliveira Fernanda Atalane
Published: March 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the storage time of Moringa oleifera oil on the acaricidal activity on Tetranychus urticae. Was used amber bottle for storage of oil which remained in a room at 25°C. The storage times considered in the experiment were 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after extraction. At each time a suspension at the concentration of 3% (v/v) was applied on the mite. A completely randomized design with 5 treatments (storage times) was used, containing 8 replicates, composed of 12 females per replicate. The application was carried out by spraying. Mortality data were submitted to the sphericity test and then to analysis of variance, followed by non-linear regression. The analysis of variance revealed that the time factor of storage significantly affected the mortality of the mite, according to an exponential model. Mortality was increasing, reaching a mean of 74.16 ± 8.37% at 120 days. The oil of M. oleifera is promising for the control of T. urticae, improving the acaricidal activity over time.
Parent-Child Communication and the Prevalence of Sexual Molestation among Adolescnts
Authors: Lanre-Babalola F. , Oke O. A.
Published: March 2019

Sexual molestation is a complex life experience, not a disorder or diagnosis. The diversity of behaviours included in sexual abuse, along with differences in the age and gender of the child victim, the nature of the relationship between the child and the perpetrator or molesters or abusers, and the frequency and duration of the child abuse or child molestation. This study examined the prevalence and patterns of sexual molestation among adolescents’ students in Nigeria. Also investigated the influence of socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, and residential location on the prevalence of sexual molestation as well as their history with the aim of understanding how to resolve the problem associated with it. The Study design was Cross-sectional survey design. The University of Lagos, Akoka and Redeemer’s University Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria was the location of the study. The study population comprised of students in Redeemer’s University, Ede Osun-State and the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos. The 200 questionnaires were distributed randomly among students. The data derived through the administered questionnaire was analyzed using frequency, percentage and t-test. Results showed that over 20% of adolescents have experienced sexual molestation of one or the other, of it was also discovered that male respondents have a higher experience of sexual molestation than female respondents among adolescents (t= 1.02, df = 198, P>0.05). A large number of parents have discussions concerning sexual molestation with their children. The study also revealed that there is a significant difference between adolescents who live with their parents and those who do not on the experience of sexual molestation (t= 2.42, df = 198, P<0.05). Adolescents in Nigeria in experience one form of sexual molestation or the other. It was therefore recommended that Parents should be informed that male children are also prone to be sexually molested, In addition, attention should be paid to close relatives as living in same residence with adolescents does not automatically prevent sexual molestation.
Error Analysis of Adsorption Isotherm Models for Sulfamethazine onto Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Balarak Davoud , Salari Amir Ali
Published: March 2019

In the present study, Multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was used for the adsorption of Sulfamethazine (SMZ) antibiotics. The adsorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, surface area (BET) and transmission electron microscopy. Batch experiments were carried out by varying the parameters like contact time, adsorbent dosage and initial Sulfamethazine concentration at fixed pH and temperature. The equilibrium data were tested with Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin, Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R), Redlich-Peterson (R-P), Sips, Toth and Khan isotherm models at five Error Analysis EABS, X2, ARE, RMSE and SD and it was found that the Langmuir and Toth isotherms best ﬁtted the adsorption of SMZ with highest value of R2 and lowest overall experimental error. Also according to the results, a maximum removal efficiency of 99.1% was obtained at pH of 7 and the contact time of 60 min; initial SMZ concentration 20 mg/L and adsorbent dose 0.8 g/L.
Glyphosate Degradation by Two Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) Isolated from Rhizosphere of Maize
Authors: Ezaka E. , Akintokun A. K. , Akintokun P. O. , Taiwo L. B. , Uthman A. C. O. , Oyedele O. A. , Aluko O. I.
Published: March 2019

This study was aimed at evaluating the possible utilization of glyphosate tolerant plant growth promoting bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus) for bioremediation of glyphosate polluted soil. The soil samples were spiked with 3.1 mg/ml, 7.2 mg/ml and 14.4 mg/ml of glyphosate and then inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus, level of glyphosate pollution before and after inoculation with the bacteria were determined using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) after extraction with acetonitrile. The bacteria showed significant ability to degrade glyphosate. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, their mixed culture and control recorded percentage degradation of 76.11, 85.8, 75.8 and 49%, respectively at 3.1 mg/ml of glyphosate while At the concentration of 7.2 mg/ml, the percentage degradation by P. aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, mixed culture of the isolates and control was 84.9, 72.7, 66.4% and 39.2%, respectively. The isolates also showed significant rate of degradation at the concentration of 14.4 mg/ml. The GC-MS results showed a significant variation in the degradation products obtained when compared with control. This study revealed that substantial amount of glyphosate was degraded by P. aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus. Hence, they may have great potential in bioremediation of glyphosate polluted soil.
Control beliefs and susceptibility to the promises of memory improvement
Authors: Rickenbach Elizabeth Hahn , Agrigoroaei Stefan , Hughes Matthew , Lachman Margie E.
Published: March 2019

Brain training is increasingly popular, and many believe in the efficacy of such programs without empirical evidence. We examined whether instructions promising memory improvement would influence subjective and objective cognition. Participants (n = 145; age: M = 50.64) were randomly assigned to a memory improvement or memory task condition. Participants completed demographic and perceived control over cognition measures, in addition to cognitive tasks and subjective cognition items for 7 days. Participants in the improvement condition reported significantly greater memory increases than those in the memory task condition. This effect was moderated by perceived control over cognition; participants in the improvement condition with high control beliefs were significantly more likely than those with low control beliefs or those in the task condition to report better memory. Individuals with higher control beliefs may be more susceptible to the claims of brain training programs, which is significant given that such programs are increasingly popular and commercially available.
Highly Photoluminescent and Environmentally Stable Perovskite Nanocrystals Templated in Thin Self‐Assembled Block Copolymer Films
Authors: Han Hyowon , Jeong Beomjin , Park Tae Hyun , Cha Wonhee , Cho Suk Man , Kim Yeongsik , Kim Hong Hee , Kim Dongho , Ryu Do Yeol , Choi Won Kook , Park Cheolmin
Published: March 2019

Ordered nanostructured crystals of thin organic–inorganic metal halide perovskites (OIHPs) are of great interest to researchers because of the dimensional‐dependence of their photoelectronic properties for developing OIHPs with novel properties. Top‐down routes such as nanoimprinting and electron beam lithography are extensively used for nanopatterning OIHPs, while bottom‐up approaches are seldom used. Herein, developed is a simple and robust route, involving the controlled crystallization of the OIHPs templated with a self‐assembled block copolymer (BCP), for fabricating nanopatterned OIHP films with various shapes and nanodomain sizes. When the precursor solution consisting of methylammonium lead halide (MAPbX3, X = Br−, I−) perovskite and poly(styrene)‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P2VP) is spin‐coated on the substrate, a nanostructured BCP is developed by microphase separation. Spontaneous crystallization of the precursor ions preferentially coordinated with the P2VP domains yields ordered nanocrystals with various nanostructures (cylinders, lamellae, and cylindrical mesh) with controlled domain size (≈40–72 nm). The nanopatterned OIHPs show significantly enhanced photoluminescence (PL) with high resistance to both humidity and heat due to geometrically confining OIHPs in and passivation with the P2VP chains. The self‐assembled OIHP films with high PL performance provide a facile control of color coordinates by color conversion layers in blue‐emitting devices for cool‐white emission.
A Reversibly Responsive Fluorochromic Hydrogel Based on Lanthanide–Mannose Complex
Authors: Meng Ke , Yao Chi , Ma Qianmin , Xue Zhaohui , Du Yaping , Liu Wenguang , Yang Dayong
Published: March 2019

Fluorochromic materials that are dynamic in response to external stimuli are of great interest for the development of advanced sensors and luminescent materials. Herein, a design based on a lanthanide‐containing polymeric hydrogel possessing characteristic emission of lanthanides (Eu and Tb) and showing response to stimuli of metal ions is reported. The fluorochromic hydrogel is prepared using a lanthanide–mannose complex in gelation matrix. The lanthanide–mannose complex shows tunable fluorescent emission in response to Fe2+, due to the inhibition of the “antenna effect” between metal ions and ligands upon stimulation. The fluorescent hydrogel shows reversible “On/Off” fluorochromic response to Fe2+/ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Remarkably, the fluorescent hydrogel is proven nontoxic and biocompatible; and a proof‐of‐application as in situ 3D cell culture extracellular matrix with reversible fluorochromic “On/Off” switch upon Fe2+/EDTA is demonstrated. This reversibly responsive fluorochromic hydrogel demonstrates a way to fabricate smart optical materials, particularly for biological‐related applications where reversible response is required.
Triphenylphosphine‐Catalyzed Diastereoselective Addition of Oxazolones to Isatin‐Derived Ketimines: Construction of Vicinal N‐Substituted Quaternary Stereocenters
Authors: Tong Pei , Li Ying , Zhang Yuan , Jiang Xianxing
Published: March 2019

Herein, an organocatalytic and highly diastereoselective addition of 4‐substituted oxazolones to isatin‐derived ketimines has been developed. This protocol provides a variety of aminooxindole‐oxazolone adducts containing congested vicinal N‐substituted quaternary stereogenic centers. Good yields and excellent diastereoselectivity were obtained under mild reaction conditions.
Encapsulation of potassium persulfate with ABS via coacervation for delaying the viscosity loss of fracturing fluid
Authors: Meng Fanbin , Li Miao , Wang Shujun , Liu Xiang , Gao Weiying , Ma Zhuang , Kong Chaopei , Ma Xuejiao , Li Jiacheng
Published: March 2019

Encapsulation of persulfates is an important and effective method for sustained release to delay the gel breaking of a fracturing fluid in a high‐temperature reservoir. For a gel breaker with sustained release performance, the coacervation of Acrylonitrile‐Butadiene‐Styrene (ABS) induced by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was conducted to encapsulate potassium persulfate (KPS). Moreover, the composition, KPS loading, morphology, structure, release property, and gel‐breaking performance of the obtained microcapsules were investigated thoroughly. The results show that KPS was successfully encapsulated by the ABS, and the KPS/ABS microcapsules consisted of micron‐sized particles with a porous surface, core/shell structure, and significant sustained release property that were affected by the core/shell mass ratio during the preparation. Moreover, the apparent viscosity of gel fracturing fluid at 70 °C obtained using the KPS/ABS microcapsules as the gel breaker could be maintained above 50 mPa·s for 100 min. Therefore, the encapsulation of KPS by the coacervation of ABS is a feasible method to achieve sustained release property, and it could effectively reduce the rate of viscosity loss of fracturing fluid at a high temperature. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47734.
Dynamic Assembly of Microspheres under an Ultrasound Field
Authors: Xu Tailin , Cheng Guanzhi , Liu Conghui , Li Tianlong , Zhang Xueji
Published: March 2019

The assembly of micro‐nanoparticles is one of the key tasks for controlling and manipulating the structure of materials at micro/‐nanoscale. By carefully designing the ultrasound experiments and comparing the results with acoustic theories, we presented an in‐depth study of the ultrasound‐induced assembly behaviors of micro/‐nanoparticles (microparticle size≪wavelength), especially their dynamic interactions between microparticles. The whole assembly processes including floating micro/nanoparticles, single particle communication, assembly to single particle interactions, and reorganization of assembly are fully studied. A rapid response of the ultrasound‐based assembly (0.5 min) shows distinct advantages compared to those of previously used methods such as light‐, electrical‐ and temperature‐based ones. Such an efficient and effective microparticle assembly holds great promise for fabrication of complex structure of materials.
Alternating Tetrafluorobenzene and Thiophene Units by Direct Arylation for Organic Electronics
Authors: Cui Xiaoping , Xiao Chengyi , Jiang Wei , Wang Zhaohui
Published: March 2019

Direct arylation represents an attractive alternative to the conventional cross‐coupling methods because of its step‐economic and eco‐friendly advantages. A set of simple D–A oligomeric molecules (F‐3, F‐5, and F‐7) by integrating thiophene (T) and tetrafluorobenzene (F4B) as alternating units through a direct arylation strategy is presented to obtain high‐performance charge‐transporting materials. Single‐crystal analysis revealed their herringbone packing arrangements driven by intensive C−H⋅⋅⋅π interactions. An excellent hole‐transporting efficiency based on single‐crystalline micro‐plates/ribbons was witnessed, and larger π‐conjugation and D–A constitution gave higher mobilities. Consequently, an average mobility of 1.31 cm2 V−1 s−1 and a maximum mobility of 2.44 cm2 V−1 s−1 for F‐7 were achieved, providing an effective way to obtain high‐performance materials by designing simple D–A oligomeric systems.
Assessing some aspects of factor screening with nonnormal responses
Authors: Chaudhry Muhammad Azam , Tyssedal John
Published: March 2019

Nonnormally distributed response values, such as count data for instance, create challenges for factor screening. One problem is that variances may vary from run to run. Another is the choice of screening design for such responses. In this paper, we assess some screening performances for three popular screening designs: a definite screening design, a minimum resolution IV design, and a Plackett‐Burman design. Four distributions, two binomials, one gamma, and one Poisson are chosen for the response values. For each distribution, we test out if it is best to use the raw data, a variance‐stabilizing transformation of the data, or perform a generalized linear modeling assuming three factors are active. From our investigations, two‐level nonregular designs gave the highest success rate in identifying the subset of active factors and a variance‐stabilizing transformation turned out to perform equally good or better than generalized linear modeling in most cases.
Nudges and signposts: The effect of smart defaults and pictographic risk information on retirement saving investment choices
Authors: Camilleri Adrian R. , Cam Marie‐Anne , Hoffmann Robert
Published: March 2019

The authors tested two interventions to improve retirement savings investment decisions. In an incentive‐compatible experiment, 459 participants engaged in a task simulating their working life. Periodically during the simulation, participants chose between different investment options. The authors examined the effectiveness of a “nudge” by manipulating the default option and the effectiveness of a “signpost” by manipulating the display of a pictograph summarizing the expected return of each option. Participants often followed the default option, particularly when it was “smart” (i.e., became more conservative as retirement approached) and when presented together with dynamic pictographs (i.e., updated each year assuming the investment was held until retirement). Those most likely to make optimal choices (i.e., consistent with the life cycle model) were presented with a smart default or dynamic pictographs. These findings reveal how different choice architecture interventions can be used to positively influence behavior. Retirement funds and regulators can support retirement savings decisions by the provision of smart defaults and better risk information in the form of pictographs.
Predictive functional ANOVA models for longitudinal analysis of mandibular shape changes
Authors: Fontanella Lara , Ippoliti Luigi , Valentini Pasquale
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we introduce a Bayesian statistical model for the analysis of functional data observed at several time points. Examples of such data include the Michigan growth study where we wish to characterize the shape changes of human mandible profiles. The form of the mandible is often used by clinicians as an aid in predicting the mandibular growth. However, whereas many studies have demonstrated the changes in size that may occur during the period of pubertal growth spurt, shape changes have been less well investigated. Considering a group of subjects presenting normal occlusion, in this paper we thus describe a Bayesian functional ANOVA model that provides information about where and when the shape changes of the mandible occur during different stages of development. The model is developed by defining the notion of predictive process models for Gaussian process (GP) distributions used as priors over the random functional effects. We show that the predictive approach is computationally appealing and that it is useful to analyze multivariate functional data with unequally spaced observations that differ among subjects and times. Graphical posterior summaries show that our model is able to provide a biological interpretation of the morphometric findings and that they comprehensively describe the shape changes of the human mandible profiles. Compared with classical cephalometric analysis, this paper represents a significant methodological advance for the study of mandibular shape changes in two dimensions.
Mortality prediction following non-traumatic amputation of the lower extremity
Authors: Norvell D C , Thompson M L , Boyko E J , Landry G , Littman A J , Henderson W G , Turner A P , Maynard C , Moore K P , Czerniecki J M
Published: March 2019

Background

Patients who undergo lower extremity amputation secondary to the complications of diabetes or peripheral artery disease have poor long-term survival. Providing patients and surgeons with individual-patient, rather than population, survival estimates provides them with important information to make individualized treatment decisions.

Methods

Patients with peripheral artery disease and/or diabetes undergoing their first unilateral transmetatarsal, transtibial or transfemoral amputation were identified in the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) database. Stepdown logistic regression was used to develop a 1-year mortality risk prediction model from a list of 33 candidate predictors using data from three of five Department of Veterans Affairs national geographical regions. External geographical validation was performed using data from the remaining two regions. Calibration and discrimination were assessed in the development and validation samples.

Results

The development sample included 5028 patients and the validation sample 2140. The final mortality prediction model (AMPREDICT-Mortality) included amputation level, age, BMI, race, functional status, congestive heart failure, dialysis, blood urea nitrogen level, and white blood cell and platelet counts. The model fit in the validation sample was good. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the validation sample was 0·76 and Cox calibration regression indicated excellent calibration (slope 0·96, 95 per cent c.i. 0·85 to 1·06; intercept 0·02, 95 per cent c.i. –0·12 to 0·17). Given the external validation characteristics, the development and validation samples were combined, giving a total sample of 7168.

Conclusion

The AMPREDICT-Mortality prediction model is a validated parsimonious model that can be used to inform the 1-year mortality risk following non-traumatic lower extremity amputation of patients with peripheral artery disease or diabetes.
Terbium Tetra‐Sulfosalicylate Complex as Quantitative Luminescent Sensing of Chromate Ions with High Selectivity and Sensitivity
Authors: Yang Wei , Xia Jinfeng , Zhou Guohong , Hu Tianxi , Ye Danwang , Jiang Danyu , Li Qiang
Published: March 2019

In this study, a terbium(Ш) complex, Tb(SSA)4 (SSA = sulfosalicylate), was synthesized and employed to detect toxic chromate anion (CrO42−) as a visually identifiable probe. Luminescence investigations confirmed that the Tb complex is an excellent probe with high selectivity, high sensitivity (I0/I100 μM = 9.5), and a low detection limit (2.8 × 10−8 M), targeting CrO42− in aqueous solution. The simple fluorescence‐based probe can be quickly and easily prepared, and enables the reliable, visual detection of CrO42− ion in daily applications.
Parking and the headaches associated with it
Authors: Miles David
Published: March 2019

If you are unlucky like me and have the responsibility of handling parking on your campus, I offer you my heartfelt condolences.