bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Weaknesses and Capacities Affecting the Prehospital Emergency Care for Victims of Road Traffic Incidents in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Balikuddembe Joseph Kimuli , Ardalan Ali , Khorasani-Zavareh Davoud , Nejati Amir , Raza Owais
Published: May 2019

Introduction:

Prehospital emergency care is a vital and integral component of health systems, particularly in resource-constrained countries like Uganda. It can help to minimize deaths, injuries, morbidities, disabilities, and trauma caused by road traffic incidents (RTIs). This study identifies the weaknesses and capacities affecting the prehospital emergency care for the victims of RTIs in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA).

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the GKMA using a three-part structured questionnaire. Data related to the demographics, nature of RTIs and victims’ pre-hospital experience and existing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were collected from victims and EMS specialists in 3 hospitals and 5 EMS institutions, respectively. Data were descriptively analyzed, and a principal component analysis was employed to identify the most influential weaknesses and capacities affecting the prehospital emergency care for the victims of RTI in the GKMA.

Results:

From 459 RTI victims (74.7% males and 25.3% females) and 23 EMS specialists (91.3% males and 8.7% females) who participated in the study between May and June 20164. key weaknesses and 5 key capacities were identified to affect the prehospital emergency care for RTI victims in the GKMA. Although some strengths exist, (e.g., ambulance facilitation, EMS structuring, and coordination), the key weaknesses affecting the pre-hospital care for victims were noted to relate to the absence of predefined EMS systems, particularly in the GKMA and Uganda as a whole. They were identified to involve poor quality first aid treatment, insufficient skills/training of the first responders, inadequate EMS resources, and avoidable delays to respond and transport RTI victims to medical facilities.

Discussion:

Though some strengths exist, the weaknesses affecting prehospital care for RTI victims primarily emanate from the absence of predefined and well-organized EMS systems in the GKMA and Uganda as a whole.
Who Can Evaluate the Safety of a Hospital Building Just After a Great Earthquake?
Authors: Ikeuchi Junko
Published: May 2019

Introduction:

The earthquake-resistant standard of the buildings of Japan is maintained by several levels. After the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake(1995) the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism in Japan classified the earthquake-resistant performance for the base facilities into 3 levels. The hospital manager often selects the middle level of earthquake-resistance. However, 10 hospitals were closed down for the destruction of facilities by the Kumamoto earthquake. Who may evaluate the safety of a hospital after a great earthquake? The purpose of this study is to consider the methods to evaluate the safety of hospital buildings just after a great earthquake.

Methods:

The damage to hospitals and the measures based on Japanese Law are arranged. Then it is considered who can declare the safety of hospital buildings after a great earthquake.

Results:

Hospital buildings collapsed in the Hanshin-Awaji Great Earthquake and many hospitals lost a function by a tsunami in the Great East Japan Earthquake. In addition, the glass and the ceilings of the hospital were damaged in the Kumamoto Earthquake. The damage occurred although these many hospitals had an earthquake-resistant standard established in the Building Standard Act of Japan. It is necessary for the experts to judge the safety of the hospital building just after a great earthquake.

Discussion:

The safety of hospital buildings is the responsibility of the hospital manager. However, there isn’t an expert of building structure employed as staff at a hospital. Thus, the hospital personnel must allow the expert of the building structure to advise a manager. In the future, it is important that the evaluation methods that can judge the damage of a hospital are developed, and the practical training for the hospital personnel are repeated.
Why Patients Refuse to Enroll in Hospital-Based Research: Perception of Patients Presenting to KATH Emergency Department
Authors: Bonney Joseph , Amissah Esi , Cobbold Sonia , Forson Paa Kobina
Published: May 2019

Introduction:

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Emergency Department (KATH ED) is a tertiary referral center in Ghana. Anecdotally, patients seeking care at KATH ED do not actively participate in research initiatives.

Aim:

To find out why patients presenting to KATH ED do not enroll in research studies that are conducted in the department.

Methods:

The study was a cross-sectional survey of patients presenting to the ED for one month in June 2017. A semi-structured questionnaire was presented to patients presenting to KATH ED from 8:00-20:00 each day. Patients who were interviewed were all patients presenting to the ED for care, including those who had refused to enroll in the ongoing ACESO study. Patients had to be conscious, alert, and with conditions that did not require immediate management.

Results:

35% of the interviewees (91/260) had been approached to enroll in research studies at some point in the past. 13.5% had refused to enroll in a research study. 45.7% of those who refused to enroll admitted that they were afraid to enroll in a study; 28.6% had inadequate information and 22.9% perceived enrolling in a study would delay their treatment. The Akan language (73%) was most commonly used by research assistants then English (26%), and finally Hausa (1%) to interact with patients. There was a significant association between educational background and explaining a study to a patient before they enrolled. Males were more willing to enroll in an ongoing study compared to females. All age groups correlated significantly with being approached to enroll in a research study and similarly all age groups also correlated with refusing to enroll in a research study

Discussion:

Patients are paramount to hospital research. Efforts must be made to ensure that patients concerns and needs are addressed to ensure increasing participation.
Working Together to Develop Best Practice: Rescue Operations in Confined Settings
Authors: Karlsson Sofia , Gyllencreutz Lina , Saveman Britt-Inger
Published: May 2019

Introduction:

Major injury incidents in confined settings such as tunnels and underground mineral- and metalliferous mines are rare, but when they do happen, the consequences may be severe with potential for many injured. The incident site is underground and it is difficult for the rescue and emergency medical service to get an overview and reach the injured. Therefore, it is important for the emergency medical service, rescue service, and the company responsible for the underground environment to have a good collaboration.

Aim:

To develop best practices of conducting rescue response from a disaster medicine perspective in tunnels and underground mines through increased education.

Method:

Within an EU-program, the university collaborates with stakeholders such as rescue service, emergency medical service, and two mining companies. Within this project, an explorative case study with participatory research is conducted. This is managed with the help of representatives of the stakeholders, workshops, and through planning for and conducting observations of table-top and full-scale exercises.

Results:

At the first workshop the stakeholders built a timeline presenting their activities from a major incident occurring in an underground mine until the last injured was transported to the hospital. Thereafter, several workshops were conducted to find improvements that could be made regarding collaboration between the organizations. Table-top and full-scale exercises have also revealed further challenges. Within the project, prototypes are being developed and will be presented during the conference.

Discussion:

This project involves stakeholders in the research process, and they, therefore, have a direct impact on the development of best practices of rescue in major underground incidents.
The Quest for Quality and Performance Indicators in Mass Disasters
Authors: Samsuddin Amanda , Sweeny Amy , Watkins Nathan , McNamee Peter , Muter Naomi , Ling Li Yuet , Huang Cindy
Published: May 2019

Introduction:

Indicators are used as a benchmark for the quality of disaster response. Desirable attributes of indicators include precision, clear definition, improvement opportunity, unbiased, flexibility, and validity. Due to a lack of universally acceptable, objective indicators, it is currently difficult to gauge improvements in mass casualty preparedness within a hospital.

Aim:

To describe existing indicators relevant to hospital disaster response, and to explore the use of two new indicators (decanting and chain of command).

Methods:

A structured literature search in indexed databases was used to identify articles related to the measurement of hospital performance in mass casualties using a matrix technique and snowballing. Relevant websites of disaster management organizations were also reviewed and local disaster management experts were interviewed. Proposed indicators were compared against attributes and some (triage time by category, notification time, time to adequate staff response, preventable deaths, decanting times and chain of command for intensive care unit, and emergency department) were tested and measured in two exercises involving more than 90 staff each, held at two Southeast Queensland hospitals in 2017 and 2018.

Results:

Over 50 proposed indicators, including indicators within large sets, were identified. Measurement of some indicators was found to be highly subjective. The decanting and chain-of-command indicators emerged as most useful. Intensive Care Unit required 40 mins to decant beds by 50%, while ED required 25 mins to decant beds by 80%. With regards to the chain of command, ED and triage staff performed best, with 66.7% correctly identifying their immediate supervisor. Overall, staff members were able to correctly identify immediate supervisor better compared to team leaders (59.3% and 40% respectively).

Discussion:

There is a need to narrow down, simplify, and objectify indicators for mass casualty performance. Baseline measurements from actual disasters will provide important comparative data.
Defining and Operationalizing Disaster Preparedness of Hospitals: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Verheul Marlous , Leenen Loek , Dückers Michel
Published: May 2019

Introduction:

Societies invest substantial amounts of resources on disaster preparedness of hospitals. However, the concept is not clearly defined or operationalized in the international literature.

Aim:

This study seeks to contribute to the alignment of knowledge of disaster preparedness in hospitals based on a systematic review and analysis of definitions and operationalizations.

Methods:

A systematic search was conducted in five databases: Scopus, Pubmed, Web of Science, Disaster Information Management Research Centre, and Safetylit. Peer-reviewed articles containing definitions and operationalizations of disaster preparedness in hospitals were included. Articles published in languages other than English, or without available full-text were excluded, as were articles on pre-hospital care.

Results:

Of the 39 included publications, 14 defined disaster preparedness in hospitals and 26 operationalized the concept. Although the definitions differed, they also reflected similar elements. Based on an analysis of the operationalizations, 12 different components could be identified that generally were not studied in relation to each other. Moreover, where publications primarily focused on structure and process aspects of disaster preparedness, 4 articles described the preferred outcome.

Discussion:

This review points at an absence of consensus on the definition and operationalization of disaster preparedness in hospitals. By combining the elements of the definitions and the components operationalized disaster preparedness could be conceptualized in a more comprehensive and complete way. A framework was developed that can guide future disaster preparedness research.
Effect of inclusion of sunflower hulls in the diet on performance, disaccharidase activity in the small intestine and caecal traits of growing rabbits
Authors: Nicodemus N. , García J. , Carabaño R. , de Blas J. C.
Published: May 2019

A basal diet was formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of growing rabbits. Another diet was formulated by substituting 152 g/kg of the basal diet with sunflower hulls (SH diet). One hundred and sixty-eight weaned 30-day-old rabbits were given these diets and finishing performance was recorded. Eighty animals were used to study the effect of SH inclusion on caecal fermentation traits at two ages (5 and 35 days after weaning) and disaccharidase activity in the small intestine at 35 days after weaning. Inclusion of SH in the diet reduced growth rate by proportionately 0·056 in the first 2 weeks after weaning (P 0 ×001), but had no effect from 14 to 65 days after weaning. Accordingly, daily gain was lower by a factor of 0·035 over the whole finishing period (P 0×01). There was no effect of treatment on food intake during the 14 days after weaning, but SH inclusion tended to increase it from this time onwards ( +0·026; P = 0 ×06) and over the whole finishing period ( + 0·018; P = 0 ×09). This effect was parallel to a 0·09 proportional decrease in the weight of caecal contents (P 0 ×01) observed in animals of 2 kg live weight. Food efficiency was lower by a factor of 0·05 (P 0×001) in all the periods considered when SH was included in the diet. Mortality rate (6%) was not affected by treatment nor was caecal pH or caecal concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ammonia nitrogen either at 5 days (5×75, 72×7 mmol/l and 16×6 mmol/l, respectively) or at 35 days after weaning (5×70, 74×3 mmol/l and 9 ×7 5 mmol/l, respectively). Inclusion of SH increased sucrase specific activity at the ileum by a factor of 0·47 (P 0×01) but had no effect on maltase specific activity at the jejunum or ileum or on sucrase specific activity at the jejunum. In conclusion, SH included at moderate levels (150 g/kg) in the diet reduced accumulation of digesta in the caecum, which increased voluntary food intake but impaired growth rate and food efficiency. Inclusion of SH did not affect caecal fermentation or mortality.
Genetic and phenotypic relationships among faecal egg count, anti-nematode antibody level and live weight in Angus cattle
Authors: Morris C.A. , Green R.S. , Cullen N.G. , Hickey S.M.
Published: May 2019

Genetic variation in host resistance to nematode infection was studied in two calf crops of Angus cattle under natural pasture challenge conditions in New Zealand, using faecal egg count (FEC) as a marker trait. Genetic and phenotypic correlations of FEC with anti-nematode antibody (Ab) level and live weights were also estimated. Ab to the third larval stages of Cooperia curticei (Cc), Cooperia oncophora (Co), Ostertagia ostertagi (Oo) and Trichostrongylus colubriformis (Tc) were assayed, along with Ab to the adult stages of Co and Oo. Calves were born in the late winter/early spring of 1995 and 1996 over a 7-week period each year; they were weaned at an average of 4 months of age, and faecal samples for FEC were taken at 10 months of age (1995 crop) and at 7 months of age (1996 crop). Blood samples for Ab were taken from both calf crops at intervals between 4 and 20 months of age, and later in peri-partum heifers and cows (23 to 25, and 36 to 37 months of age). For the two calf crops combined, there were 370 animals by 24 sires. Additional blood samples were taken on related animals from the 1993 and 1994 calf crops (218 extra animals, 19 different extra sires). The heritability of loge (FEC + 100) was 0•32 (s.e. 0•16), and heritabilities of loge Ab between 4 and 9 months of age averaged 0•30, between 11 and 20 months of age 0•22, and peri-partum 0•30. Between-animal repeatabilities of Ab levels from samples taken between 4 and 9 months of age averaged 0•40, between 11 and 20 months 0•48, and peri-partum 0•35. Genetic and phenotypic correlations among loge Abs for various nematode species (in hosts aged 4 to 9 months) averaged 0•82 and 0•61, respectively. The corresponding genetic and phenotypic correlations between loge Ab and loge(FEC + 100) averaged –0•48 and –0•07, respectively, whilst those between loge Ab and yearling weight averaged 0•29 and 0•13, respectively. It was concluded that direct selection to reduce FEC should be feasible if required, but index selection combining increased live weight and reduced FEC would often be preferable; anti-nematode Ab levels were repeatable, and FEC and Ab levels were negatively associated genetically.
Effect of winter feeding level and season on herbage intake in dairy breed steers on perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture
Authors: Nielsen B. , Thamsborg S.M. , Andersen H.R. , Kristensen T.
Published: May 2019

The objectives of this study were (1) to estimate herbage intake in spring and late summer in Danish Friesian steers during their first grazing season on ryegrass/white clover pasture and (2) to investigate the effect of different winter feeding levels on subsequent herbage intake in Danish Friesian steers weighing more than 450 kg. In experiment 1, herbage intake was estimated in 18 to 20 steers with a mean live weight of 210 kg (s.e. 8•0 kg) and 312 (s.e. 8•9) kg in May/June and August respectively. In experiment 2, 22 steers were allocated to two feeding treatments in their second winter with expected daily live-weight gain of 500 g (LOW) and 800 g (HIGH). The steers weighed 440 (s.e. 15•8) kg (LOW) and 531 (s.e. 9•2) kg (HIGH) at the time of turn-out on to a ryegrass/white clover pasture. Herbage intakes were estimated in June using, as in experiment 1, the alkane bolus technique. Faeces and herbage samples were analysed for alkanes to estimate herbage intake, digestibility and botanical composition of intake. The weight gains (kg/day) were 1•156 (s.e. 0•69) and 1•054 (s.e. 0•87) in May/June and August respectively (experiment 1) and 1•592 (s.e. 0•137) and 1•273 (s.e. 0•116) in June in LOW and HIGH respectively (experiment 2). Daily herbage intake (kg dry matter (DM) per steer) estimated by alkanes C32 /C33 were 5•2 (s.e. 0•26), 9•4 (s.e. 0•28) in May/June and August (experiment 1) (P < 0•001) and 12•0 (s.e. 0•50) and 10•4 (s.e. 0•41) in LOW and HIGH (experiment 2) (P < 0•05) respectively. The diet of steers contained primarily ryegrass leaves (0•70 to 0•90) and ryegrass stems (0•10 to 0•30) and clover (0 to 0•02 and 0•18 in experiment 1 and experiment 2 respectively). It was concluded that (1) steers during their first grazing season can maintain herbage intake per kg live weight during the grazing season from May to August, and (2) steers weighing more than 450 kg are able to increase herbage intake along with compensatory growth.
Effect of diets containing graded levels of low glucosinolate rapeseed press cake on reproductive organs and hormonal status in gilts and their female piglets
Authors: Opalka M. , Tywonczuk J. , Koziorowski M. , Dusza L.
Published: May 2019

Crossbred gilts were offered rapeseed press cake (RSP) as follows: control (no RSP in diet during growth/ pregnancy/lactation), M-RSP (medium RSP levels: 100/50/100 g/kg RSP) and H-RSP (high RSP levels: 150/80/ 150 g/kg RSP). Plasma concentrations of free thyroxine (FT4), tri-iodothyronine (T3), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), progesterone (P4) and androstenedione (A4), weights of thyroid gland, ovaries and uterus, length of uterine horns, and number of corpora lutea (CL) were measured in gilts during the mid-luteal phase of their first oestrous cycle. Serum concentrations of FT4, T3, LH and PRL, weights of thyroids, ovaries, uteri, adrenals, kidneys, liver and spleen were measured in female piglets on 2nd and 28th day of lactation. RSP diets, affected thyroid weights, number of CL, uterine horn length, mean concentrations of plasma FT4, T3, PRL, and P4 in gilts. Changes of weights of ovaries in 2-day-old piglets and weights of uterus, adrenal gland and kidneys in 28-day-old piglets from RSP groups were observed.
In vitro culture of oocytes with surrounding cumulus complexes and granulosa cells (COCGs) from bovine early antral follicles
Authors: Saha S. , Shimizu M. , Geshi M. , Izaike Y.
Published: May 2019

Cumulus-oocyte complexes with surrounding granulosa cells (COCGs) in early antral follicles (0·5 to 0·7 mm in diameter) were surgically collected from sections of bovine ovarian cortex under a dissection microscope and subsequently cultured in vitro using follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-transferrin-selenium (ITS) and hypoxanthine, singly or in combination, to obtain fully grown matured oocytes. Oocytes cultured in the presence of FSH + hypoxanthine increased (P < 0·05) in diameter from 93 µm on the day of commencement of culture to 106·37±0·34 µm on day 5. Oocytes cultured in the presence of FSH, hypoxanthine or hypoxanthine + ITS + FSH increased (P < 0·05) to mean diameters of 105·40 (s.e. 0·47) µm, 105·50 (s.e. 0·39) µm and 105·35 (s.e. 0·55) µm, respectively. By day 11 of culture, oocyte diameters 110·50 (s.e. 0·35) µm, 110·13 (s.e. 0·39) µm, 109·49 (s.e. 0·46) µm, 109·53 (s.e. 0·58) µm and 109·16 (s.e. 0·43) µm were recorded for treatments FSH + hypoxanthine, hypoxanthine + ITS + FSH, FSH, hypoxanthine and FSH + EGF + hypoxanthine + ITS, respectively. The proportions with COCGs which formed an antrum while cultured in vitro; were categorized as morphologically normal following recovery from the gel; matured in vitro; showed germinal vesicle break down and reached metaphase II were highest (P < 0·05) for the FSH + hypoxanthine treatment (49/60 (81·7%), 48/60 (80·0%), 47/60 (78·3%), 45/60 (75·0%) and 15/60 (25·0%), respectively, followed by hypoxanthine + ITS + FSH (47/60 (78·3%), 44/60 (73·3%), 41/60 (68·3%), 41/60 (68·3%) and 12/60 (20%), respectively), FSH (43/60 (71·7%), 42/60 (70%), 40/60 (66·7%), 39/60 (65·0%) and 9/60 (15%), respectively) and hypoxanthine (41/60 (68·3%), 38/60 (63·3%), 36/60 (60%), 35/60 (58·3%) and 8/60 (13·3%), respectively). In experiment II, the in vitro fertilization and cleavage rates of COCGs were highest (P < 0·05) for FSH + hypoxanthine treatment (17/60; 28·3%) followed by hypoxanthine + ITS + FSH (13/60; 21·6%), FSH (12/60; 20%) and hypoxanthine (11/60; 18·3%) treatments. The results of this study show that COCGs from early antral follicles can be isolated, cultured and grown in vitro. Furthermore, supplements like FSH and hypoxanthine can be used singly or in combination(s) in culture medium to enhance the growth of COCGs.
Optimum dietary amino acid pattern and limiting order of some essential amino acids for growing-furring blue foxes (Alopex lagopus)
Authors: Dahlman T. , Valaja J. , Venäläinen E. , Jalava T. , Pölönen I.
Published: May 2019

The optimum pattern and limiting order of some essential amino acids for growing-furring blue foxes were assessed from nitrogen (N) retention responses. Total tract digestibility and N balance trials were carried out on 24 weaned blue fox males in an 8 ✕ 5 cyclic change-over experiment. Eight experimental diets were prepared by removing proportionately about 0·4 of each of the amino acids studied – methionine + cystine, lysine, threonine, tryptophan and histidine – successively from the amino acid control diet. The main source of protein in the amino acid control diet was casein and an amino acid mixture was added to bring the calculated crude protein (CP) content up to the level of 170 g/kg dry matter (DM). Low-protein (CP 95·7 g/kg DM) and high-protein (CP 166·6 g/kg DM) diets, the protein proportion of which was casein protein, served as negative and positive control diets, respectively. The reduction in N retention when one amino acid in turn was deleted from the amino acid control diet was calculated, and a regression analysis was made between N retention and relative amino acid intake. Data on the animals’ intake of each limiting amino acid and those on the amino acid control diet were used. The optimum amino acid pattern, expressed relative to lysine = 100, proved to be: methionine + cystine 77, threonine 64, histidine 55 and tryptophan 22. The first-limiting amino acids were methionine + cystine. Blue fox responses (N retention, weight gain) to deletion of methionine + cystine from the diet were very severe and exceeded those to deletion of any other amino acid. Moreover, removing methionine + cystine from the diet significantly impaired the apparent digestibility of organic matter, reducing it to a level even lower than that of the low-protein diet. After methionine + cystine, the next-limiting amino acid in casein-based diets was threonine, followed by histidine and tryptophan. The results show the importance of verifying the sufficiency of dietary methionine + cystine in the practical feeding of blue foxes.
Gaseous emissions from deep-litter pens with straw or sawdust for fattening pigs
Authors: Nicks B. , Laitat M. , Farnir F. , Vandenheede M. , Désiron A. , Verhaeghe C. , Canart B.
Published: May 2019

Three successive batches of fattening pigs were raised on a deep litter of straw in one room and of sawdust in another. The quantities of litter used per pig were 40 kg of straw and 81 kg of sawdust.

Once a month, the emissions of ammonia, nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide and water vapour were measured continuously for 6 days consecutively.

Gaseous emissions from pig raising on sawdust-based litter and straw-based litter were respectively 12·16 and 13·61 g per pig per day for ammonia (NH3), 4·96 and 7·39 g per pig per day for methane (CH4), 2·09 and 0·03 g per pig per day for nitrous oxide (N2O), 3·15 and 2·74 kg per pig per day for water (H2O) and 1·32 and 1·30 kg per pig per day for carbon dioxide (CO2). Differences between the emissions of the two litters were significant for N2O and H2O (P 0·01).

The nitrogen content of the manures collected at the end of the experiment was 1·47 kg per pig for the straw-based litter and 1·07 kg per pig for that based on sawdust. Nitrogen emissions were calculated under the assumption that no gases volatilized from the litter or from the animals other than NH3 and N2O. With the two litters, about 50% of nitrogen excreted by the pigs was emitted into the atmosphere in the form of N2.
The effect of previous experience of four pasture species on the grazing behaviour of ewes and their lambs
Authors: Phillips C.J.C. , Youssef M.Y.I.
Published: May 2019

Four groups of eight primiparous ewes and their single lambs were grazed for 2 weeks on pasture containing one of four novel grass species – perennial ryegrass, timothy, cocksfoot and red fescue. When subsequently grazed in a field with randomized plots of the four species, both ewes and lambs spent longer grazing the species to which they had been accustomed than was spent by ewes and lambs accustomed to other species. This effect was proportionately greater for the lambs than the ewes, and the lambs responded most to experience of cocksfoot and red fescue. Both ewes and lambs spent most time grazing perennial ryegrass and timothy, and least time grazing red fescue, with cocksfoot intermediate. It is concluded that perennial ryegrass and timothy are grazed by ewes and lambs in preference to cocksfoot and red fescue, but that a two week period of experience will increase the attractiveness of the less-preferred species, particularly to lambs.
STEADY-STATE REAL EFFECTS OF INFLATION IN A HECKSCHER–OHLIN CASH-IN-ADVANCE MODEL
Authors: CHUANG SHI-FENG
Published: May 2019

This paper explores the possible real effects of inflation within a two-sector neoclassical growth model of the Heckscher–Ohlin type with a cash-in-advance constraint on the purchases of consumption goods. The main findings are that the relative prices of both factors and of both goods, which are linked via a Stolper–Samuelson relation, depend only on the rate of time preference, not on any monetary variable; that the steady-state level of total capital can be influenced by inflation if the capital intensities and the cash requirements in both sectors differ, leading to Tobin effects or reversed Tobin effects; and that higher inflation unambiguously reduces total labor supply and leads to a reversed Tobin effect in most cases if the labor/leisure choice is endogenized.
The prescription of opioid analgesics to terminal cancer patients:
Impact of physicians' general attitudes and contextual
factors
Authors: PERETTI-WATEL P. , BENDIANE M.K. , OBADIA Y. , FAVRE R. , LAPIANA J.M. , MOATTI J.P. , GROUP THE SOUTH-EASTERN FRANCE PALLIATIVE CARE
Published: May 2019

Objective: This study aimed to examine factors associated
with the prescription of opioid analgesics to terminal cancer patients,
including physicians' general attitudes toward morphine and
contextual factors.

Methods: A survey was conducted among a sample of French
general practitioners (GPs) and oncologists. Respondents were asked to
describe the last three terminally ill patients they had followed up to
death.

Results: Overall, 526 GPs and oncologists (global response
rate: 57%) described 1,082 cancer patients, among whom 85.4% received
opioid analgesics. Among other significant predictors (patient age,
cancer type, family assistance), this prescription was less frequent
for female patients followed by male physicians (OR = 0.53), and more
frequent for patients followed by physicians trained in palliative care
(OR = 2.70). On the other hand, physicians' attitudes toward
morphine were not associated with prescription of morphine and other
opioid analgesics.

Significance of results: Although nonprescription of opioid
analgesics is only a crude proxy measure for undertreatment of cancer
pain, our findings suggest the need to develop training in palliative
care in order to standardize practices among GPs and specialists. Our
results also highlight the necessity to study pain assessment as an
interaction between the physician and the patient, and to consider
patients' and physicians' respective genders as a key
variable within this interaction.
Unravelling the hidden inter and intra-varietal diversity of durum wheat commercial varieties used in Portugal
Authors: Bento Miguel , Pereira Sónia Gomes , Viegas Wanda , Silva Manuela
Published: May 2019

Assessing durum wheat genomic diversity is crucial in a changing environmental particularly in the Mediterranean region where it is largely used to produce pasta. Durum wheat varieties cultivated in Portugal and previously assessed regarding thermotolerance ability were screened for the variability of coding sequences associated with technological traits and repetitive sequences. As expected, reduced variability was observed regarding low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) but a specific LMW-GS allelic form associated with improved pasta-making characteristics was absent in one variety. Contrastingly, molecular markers targeting repetitive elements like microsatellites and retrotransposons – Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) and Inter Retrotransposons Amplified Polymorphism (IRAP) – disclosed significant inter and intra-varietal diversity. This high level of polymorphism was revealed by the 20 distinct ISSR/IRAP concatenated profiles observed among the 23 individuals analysed. Interestingly, median joining networks and PCoA analysis grouped individuals of the same variety and clustered varieties accordingly with geographical origin. Globally, this work demonstrates that durum wheat breeding strategies induced selection pressure for some relevant coding sequences while maintaining high levels of genomic variability in non-coding regions enriched in repetitive sequences.
Advances in Quaternary studies and geomorphology in Scotland: implications for geoconservation
Authors: GORDON John E. , BRAZIER Vanessa , HANSOM Jim D. , WERRITTY Alan
Published: May 2019

Quaternary deposits and landforms are an integral component of Scotland's geodiversity and natural heritage with intrinsic, scientific, educational, cultural, aesthetic and ecological values. Their conservation is founded on the assessment and safeguard of key protected areas principally for their scientific values. The evaluation of site networks for Quaternary deposits and landforms (including glacial, fluvial, coastal, mass movement, karst and cave features) has evolved since the late 1940s, culminating in the Great Britain Geological Conservation Review (GCR) site assessments undertaken principally between 1977 and the early 1990s. Significant scientific progress since then has arisen, for example, from re-investigation of existing sites and discoveries of new sites, developments in geochronology and the formulation and application of new concepts and models. Both the GCR site lists and the supporting site documentation now require updating in the light of this progress. Today there is greater emphasis on the wider, non-scientific values of geoconservation including, for example, on ecosystem services, links with biodiversity and cultural heritage, geotourism and the benefits for human health and wellbeing through improved understanding of dynamic landscapes, climate change and natural hazards. Involvement of wider public support beyond the geoscience community and fostering better integration of geoheritage within the developing nature conservation agenda, including a land systems approach, protected area planning and management, natural capital and connecting people and nature, will help further to protect our Quaternary geoheritage.
Investigating Loss of Relativistic Electrons Associated With EMIC Waves at Low L Values on 22 June 2015
Authors: Qin Murong , Hudson Mary , Li Zhao , Millan Robyn , Shen Xiaochen , Shprits Yuri , Woodger Leslie , Jaynes Allison , Kletzing Craig
Published: May 2019

In this study, rapid loss of relativistic radiation belt electrons at low L* values (2.4–3.2) during a strong geomagnetic storm on 22 June 2015 is investigated along with five possible loss mechanisms. Both the particle and wave data are obtained from the Van Allen Probes. Duskside H+ band electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves were observed during a rapid decrease of relativistic electrons with energy above 5.2 MeV occurring outside the plasmasphere during extreme magnetopause compression. Lower He+ composition and enriched O+ composition are found compared to typical values assumed in other studies of cyclotron resonant scattering of relativistic electrons by EMIC waves. Quantitative analysis demonstrates that even with the existence of He+ band EMIC waves, it is the H+ band EMIC waves that are likely to cause the depletion at small pitch angles and strong gradients in pitch angle distributions of relativistic electrons with energy above 5.2 MeV at low L values for this event. Very low frequency wave activity at other magnetic local time can be favorable for the loss of relativistic electrons at higher pitch angles. An illustrative calculation that combines the nominal pitch angle scattering rate due to whistler mode chorus at high pitch angles with the H+ band EMIC wave loss rate at low pitch angles produces loss on time scale observed at L=2.4–3.2. At high L values and lower energies, radial loss to the magnetopause is a viable explanation.
Upper Ocean Response to Rain Observed From a Vertical Profiler
Authors: ten Doeschate A. , Sutherland G. , Bellenger H. , Landwehr S. , Esters L. , Ward B.
Published: May 2019

Rainfall induces a vertical salinity gradient directly below the ocean surface, the strength and lifetime of which depend on the size of the rain event, the availability of mixing, and the air‐sea heat fluxes. The presence of rain in turn influences the near‐surface turbulent mixing and air‐sea exchange processes. During a campaign in the midlatitude North Atlantic, the Air‐Sea Interaction Profiler (ASIP) was used to investigate changes in the vertical distribution of salinity (S), temperature (T), and turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate (ϵ) caused by four rain events. During one of the rain events a strong shallow stratification was formed. The buoyancy effect of this freshwater lens changes the dominant wind‐driven turbulent mixing. The surface momentum flux was limited to a shallow layer, and below it ϵ is reduced by 2 orders of magnitude. For a different rain event of higher‐peak rain rate, the salinity anomaly is smaller and is dispersed deeper into the water column. The difference in ocean response shows that the upper ocean is sensitive to changes in the atmospheric forcing associated with the rain events. The observed salinity anomalies as a function of rain rate and wind speed are compared to relationships from studies with the 1‐D turbulence model GOTM and satellite validation. The observations suggest that the vertical salinity anomaly is best described as a function of total rain. A higher‐resolution prognostic model for sea surface salinity and temperature is shown to perform well in predicting the observed S and T anomalies.
Evolution of Debris‐Flow Initiation Mechanisms and Sediment Sources During a Sequence of Postwildfire Rainstorms
Authors: Tang Hui , McGuire Luke A. , Rengers Francis K. , Kean Jason W. , Staley Dennis M. , Smith Joel B.
Published: May 2019

Wildfire alters vegetation cover and soil hydrologic properties, substantially increasing the likelihood of debris flows in steep watersheds. Our understanding of initiation mechanisms of postwildfire debris flows is limited, in part, by a lack of direct observations and measurements. In particular, there is a need to understand temporal variations in debris‐flow likelihood following wildfire and how those variations relate to wildfire‐induced hydrologic and geomorphic changes. In this study, we use a combination of in situ measurements, hydrologic monitoring equipment, and numerical modeling to assess the impact of wildfire‐induced hydrologic and geomorphic changes on debris‐flow initiation during seven postwildfire rainstorms. We predict the impact of hillslope erosion on debris‐flow initiation by combining terrestrial laser scanning surveys of a hillslope burned during the 2016 Fish Fire with numerical modeling of sediment transport throughout a 0.12‐km2 basin in southern California. We use measurements of sediment thickness within the channel to constrain numerical experiments and to assess the role of channel sediment supply on debris‐flow initiation. Results demonstrate that debris flows initiated during rainstorms where hillslopes contributed minimally to the event sediment yield and suggest that large inputs of sediment from rill and gully networks are not essential for runoff‐generated debris flows. Simulations suggest that both the gradual entrainment of sediment and the mass failure of channel bed sediment can increase sediment concentration to levels associated with debris flows. Finally, postwildfire debris‐flow initiation appears closely linked to the same rainfall intensity‐duration threshold despite temporal changes in the sediment source, initiation processes, and hydraulic roughness.
Observations of 5.9‐GHz Radio Propagation and 802.11p Network Performance at Road Junctions
Authors: Clayton C. J. , Stocker A. J. , Alwane S. K. A. , Hassan D.
Published: May 2019

The propagation of 5.9‐GHz radio signals and performance of an 802.11p network were measured at three road junctions each having a different density of buildings. The maximum range for which acceptable performance (defined as where the packet delivery ratio was greater than 90%) was dependent on the junction but lies in the range of 45–70 m. While reflections from transient vehicles were often found to have a small positive impact on network performance, this could not be relied upon to provide a reliable improvement in communications. The received signal strength was dependent on the junction type with the strong reflections from buildings located on the opposite side of a T‐junction leading to higher signal strength. Finally, an empirical relationship between the packet delivery ratio and the received signal strength has been established that will allow modelers to link signal strength to network performance for field conditions.
A Global Plate Model Including Lithospheric Deformation Along Major Rifts and Orogens Since the Triassic
Authors: Müller R. Dietmar , Zahirovic Sabin , Williams Simon E. , Cannon John , Seton Maria , Bower Dan J. , Tetley Michael G. , Heine Christian , Le Breton Eline , Liu Shaofeng , Russell Samuel H. J. , Yang Ting , Leonard Jonathon , Gurnis Michael
Published: May 2019

Global deep‐time plate motion models have traditionally followed a classical rigid plate approach, even though plate deformation is known to be significant. Here we present a global Mesozoic–Cenozoic deforming plate motion model that captures the progressive extension of all continental margins since the initiation of rifting within Pangea at ~240 Ma. The model also includes major failed continental rifts and compressional deformation along collision zones. The outlines and timing of regional deformation episodes are reconstructed from a wealth of published regional tectonic models and associated geological and geophysical data. We reconstruct absolute plate motions in a mantle reference frame with a joint global inversion using hot spot tracks for the last 80 million years and minimizing global trench migration velocities and net lithospheric rotation. In our optimized model, net rotation is consistently below 0.2°/Myr, and trench migration scatter is substantially reduced. Distributed plate deformation reaches a Mesozoic peak of 30 × 106 km2 in the Late Jurassic (~160–155 Ma), driven by a vast network of rift systems. After a mid‐Cretaceous drop in deformation, it reaches a high of 48 x 106 km2 in the Late Eocene (~35 Ma), driven by the progressive growth of plate collisions and the formation of new rift systems. About a third of the continental crustal area has been deformed since 240 Ma, partitioned roughly into 65% extension and 35% compression. This community plate model provides a framework for building detailed regional deforming plate networks and form a constraint for models of basin evolution and the plate‐mantle system.
Investigation Parameters for Sound Induced by Fluid Displacement in Rock Samples
Authors: Mikhailov Dmitry , Sergeev Stanislav
Published: May 2019

We conducted laboratory experiments to measure the sound produced during water‐by‐gas and kerosene‐by‐water displacements in samples of Indiana limestone and sandstones with different permeabilities. In water‐by‐gas displacement experiments, intensive sound was detected during the injection of hundreds of pore volumes and even when mobile water saturation was small (~1%). The sound was produced in a wide frequency range starting with frequencies less than 1 kHz; the upper frequencies varied from approximately 15 kHz for high‐permeability sandstone to almost 50 kHz for low‐permeability sandstone. In contrast to the experiments with gas flow through the dry rock samples, where sound appears only at high gas rates corresponding to the Forchheimer flow regime, the displacement produces sound at lower rates, corresponding to Darcy regime. Both the drop rate of sound emission and the sound intensity at the same mobile water saturation were determined to inversely depend on the rock permeability. We found that sound produced by sandstones shows a power law relationship between the number of events and their amplitudes, where the absolute value of the exponent also inversely depends on the rock permeability. In kerosene‐by‐water displacement experiments, the signal was observed at lower frequencies (up to 5 kHz) and only during injection of the first several pore volumes. A model describing the sound generation was suggested; the model considers acoustic events as a train of random pressure pulses corresponding to a Poisson point process. Simulation results demonstrated that the model reasonably reproduces the general trend of sound spectra produced by sandstones.
Elevation Drives Gradients in Surface Soil Temperature Within Salt Marshes
Authors: Alber Merryl , O'Connell Jessica L.
Published: May 2019

Elevation differences in salt marshes result in numerous ecological consequences as a result of variation in tidal flooding. We demonstrate here that elevation differences are also negatively correlated with soil temperature on the marsh platform, irrespective of tidal flooding. Field observations of soil temperature at 10‐cm depth in a Georgia marsh showed that elevation increases of 0.5 m corresponded to decreases in average soil temperature of 0.9–1.7°C during both winter and summer. Landsat 8 estimates of land surface temperatures across the marsh in dry (nonflooded) scenes also showed that temperature decreased with increasing elevation, which was consistent with soil observations. Similar satellite results were also found in a test marsh in Virginia. Biological reactions are temperature‐dependent, and these findings indicate that metabolic processes will vary over short distances. This is important for accurately estimating marsh metabolism and predicting how changes in temperature will affect future productivity.
Contrasting Evaporative Responses of Ecosystems to Heatwaves Traced to the Opposing Roles of Vapor Pressure Deficit and Surface Resistance
Authors: Wang Peng , Li Dan , Liao Weilin , Rigden Angela , Wang Wen
Published: May 2019

Understanding the evaporative response of ecosystems to heatwaves is critical for managing ecosystem services and water resources, especially under a changing climate. In this study, we examine the land‐atmosphere exchange of water and heat fluxes under heatwave and nonheatwave conditions across five different land cover types, including grasslands, shrublands, croplands, deciduous broadleaf forests, and evergreen needleleaf forests, using data from eddy covariance towers. Results show that net radiation and sensible heat flux increase from nonheatwave to heatwave conditions across all five land cover types but latent heat flux shows contrasting responses to heatwaves. An attribution analysis further demonstrates that heatwave‐induced changes in evaporative fraction are mainly caused by changes in vapor pressure deficit (positive contribution) and changes in surface resistance (negative contribution). The imbalance between the positive and negative contributions varies across the five land cover types and is responsible for their contrasting evaporative responses to heatwaves.
Effective bias warm-up time reduction for MEMS gyroscopes based on active suppression of the coupling stiffness
Authors: Cui Jian , Zhao Qiancheng , Yan Guizhen
Published: May 2019

Bias warm-up time is the time required for MEMS gyroscopes to reach a relatively stable state with specified performance after the power supply is turned on, is a critical factor for short time-of-flight navigation applications. This paper demonstrates an effective method to improve the bias warm-up time of a custom-designed MEMS gyroscope operating in split-mode based on open-loop readout scheme with active suppression of the coupling stiffness (ASCS). A semi-quantitative mathematical model for the temperature sensitivity of the bias is established that indicates the resonant frequency of the primary mode, the frequency difference and the coupling stiffness between the primary and sense modes together with the demodulation phase error, and these are the main factors that affect bias warm-up time. Of all these parameters, the stiffness coupling variation contributes the most to the start-up warm-up time, followed by the phase error drift. The experimental result shows that the bias warm-up time decreases from 2000 to 2 s under the condition that the bias stability (1σ) falls into about 10 deg/h within an hour of testing time using closed-loop control for the coupling stiffness, resulting in a reduction of three orders of magnitude. In addition, the bias instability of the gyroscope is improved two-fold from 4 to 2 deg/h with ASCS.