bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cloud Service Providers Optimized Ranking Algorithm Based on Machine Learning and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis
Authors: Wasim Muhammad Umer , Ibrahim Abdallah A. Z. A. , Bouvry Pascal , Limba Tadas
Published: January 2018

Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), one of the prevalent branches of operations research, aims to design mathematical and computational tools for selecting the best alternative among several choices with respect to specific criteria. In the cloud, MCDA based online brokers uses customer specified criteria to rank different service providers. However, subjected to limited domain knowledge, the customer may exclude relevant or include irrelevant criterion, which could result in suboptimal ranking of service providers. To deal with such misspecification, this research proposes a model, which uses notion of factor analysis from the domain of unsupervised machine learning. The model is evaluated using two quality-of-service (QoS) based datasets. The first dataset i.e., feedback from customers, was compiled using leading review websites such as Cloud Hosting Reviews, Best Cloud Computing Providers, and Cloud Storage Reviews and Ratings. The second dataset i.e., feedback from servers, was generated from cloud brokerage architecture that was emulated using high performance computing (HPC) cluster at University of Luxembourg (HPC @ Uni.lu). The simulation runs in a stable cloud environment i.e. when uncertainty is low, shows that online broker (equipped with the proposed model) produces optimized ranking of service providers as compared to other brokers. This is due the fact that proposed model assigns priorities to criteria objectively (using machine learning) rather than using priorities based on subjective judgments of the customer. This research will benefit potential cloud customers that view insufficient domain knowledge as a limiting factor for acquisition of web services in the cloud.
A New Dynamic Programming Method for UAV Image Stitching Using Optical Flow
Authors: Zhang Weilong , Guo Bingxuan , Li Ming , Liao Xuan , Yao Yuan , Xiao Xiongwu , Wu Teng , Li Wenzhuo
Published: January 2018

Dislocation is one of the major challenges in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image stitching. In this paper, we propose a new dynamic programming for seamlessly stitching UAV images using optical flow. Our solution consists of two steps: Firstly, an image-matching algorithm is used to correct the images so that they are in the same coordinate system. Secondly, a new dynamic programming algorithm is develop based on the concept of a stereo dual-channel energy accumulation using optical flow. A new energy aggregation and traversal strategy is adopted in our solution, which can find a more optimal seam line for adjacent image stitching. Our algorithm overcomes the theoretical limitation of the classical Duplaquet algorithm. Experiments show that the algorithm can effectively solve the dislocation problem in UAV image stitching. Beyond that, our solution is also direction-independent, which has more adaptability and robustness for UAV images.
Zn2+-Loaded Cellulose Beads Stabilized by Chitosan and Prepared via Freeze-Drying for Removing Human Testosterone in Plasma
Authors: Yu Huibin , Ke Hongqin , Chen Tu , Li Xing , Tan Shenglong , Zhou Lei , Wang Shenqi
Published: January 2018

Immobilized metal ion affinity adsorbents have been widely used in separation technique to purify proteins. Due to the leakage of metal ion from the adsorbents, there is no metal ion affinity adsorbent for hemoperfusion has been applied to clinical trial. In this study, in order to prevent the leakage of Zn2+ loaded from cellulose beads based adsorbent, improve its stability and adsorption capacity for testosterone, Freeze-drying method was used to enhance the porosity of cellulose beads, improve the surface area of the cellulose beads and adsorption capacity for testosterone. Chitosan was used to coat the adsorbents for preventing the leakage of Zn2+ loaded and improve the adsorbent’s stability. Moreover, the factors affecting adsorption ability and some components in plasma were also investigated. The results indicate the adsorption ability of the adsorbent can be significantly improved by freeze-drying. After the adsorbent was coated with 0.02% chitosan solution, the highest adsorption percentage reached 48%. During adsorption, the Zn2+ concentration in plasma did not rise. In addition, the adsorption percentage for total proteins was below 15%. The results may be caused by the pore size and surface area of the adsorbent enlarged via freeze-drying, and the chitosan solution went into the pores and coated the outer and inner surface of the adsorbent. The adsorbent has a potential clinical application to remove testosterone in patients with recurrent and metastatic prostate cancer.
Three Bufadienolides-Induced Human Lung Cancer CL1-5 Cell Death Mainly through Autophagy
Authors: Huang Hui-Chi , Lee Meng-Shiou , Chang Wen-Te , Chen Hsing-Yu , Chen Yu-Hua , Lin Chi-Chen , Lin Ming-Kuem
Published: January 2018

Lung cancer is almost the most common cause of cancer death in the world. Clinically, the conventional therapy to eradicate the cancer cells is chemotherapy but a better drug remains required. In this study, the effects of three bufadienolides, kalantuboside B, kalantuboside A and bryotoxin C, isolated from Kalanchoe tubiflora (Harvey) were evaluated and characterized in CL1-5 highly metastatic human lung cancer cells. Contrary to the apoptosis-promoting activity in other cancer cells, these three bufadienolides did not induce apoptosis in CL1-5 cancer cells. Instead, they activated an autophagy pathway, as indicated by the increase of autophagosomes formation. The induction of autophagy by these three bufadienolides was demonstrated to link to down-regulation of p-mTOR as well as up-regulation of LC3-II, ATG5, ATG7, Beclin-1. Moreover, among these three compounds, kalantuboside B in which a monosaccharide is attached at the bufadienolide aglycon, exhibited a better autophagy induction. Our findings revealed an alternative mechanism of drug action by bufadienolides in lung cancer cells and provided evidence for the possibility of treating highly metastatic human lung cancer through an autophagy pathway.
Creep and Wear in Vitamin E-Infused Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene Cups for Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Rochcongar G. , Buia G. , Bourroux E. , Dunet J. , Chapus V. , Hulet C.
Published: January 2018

Background:

Aseptic loosening, the most common indication for revision surgery in total hip arthroplasty, can result from osteolysis caused by polyethylene (PE) wear particles. PE wear is increased by age-related oxidation of PE and free radicals emerging during irradiation cross-linking. Diffusion of vitamin E into PE stabilizes free radicals to maintain the biomechanical properties of PE. The purpose of this study was to determine whether vitamin E-infused highly cross-linked PE cups could reduce wear rates.

Methods:

We performed a prospective randomized controlled trial, in which 62 patients were allocated to 2 groups: a study group that received a vitamin E-infused highly cross-linked PE (HXLPE/VitE) cup and a control group that received an ultra-high molecular weight PE (UHMWPE) cup. Using radiostereometric analysis, we measured the penetration of the femoral head into the cup 7 days after surgery (baseline) and then again at 6 months and at 1, 2, and 3 years later.

Results:

Baseline variables did not differ significantly between the groups. At 1, 2, and 3 years after surgery, the HXLPE/VitE cup showed significantly less cumulative penetration (creep and wear) than the UHMWPE cup (p = 0.004, p < 0.0001, and p < 0.0001, respectively). The cumulative penetration after 3 years was 0.200 mm for the HXLPE/VitE cup versus 0.317 mm for the UHMWPE cup (p < 0.0001). From 1 to 3 years after surgery, after creep had stabilized and further penetration was mainly due to wear, the mean penetration increased only 0.04 mm in the HXLPE/VitE cup and 0.116 mm in the UHMWPE cup.

Conclusions:

Our results confirm that wear rates over the first 3 years following surgery were lower in HXLPE/VitE cups than in UHMWPE cups. This suggests that HXLPE/VitE cups may prevent osteolysis, implant loosening, and eventually revision surgery. Long-term follow-up data continue to be collected to confirm these findings.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Diagnosis of Periprosthetic Joint Infection: The Potential of Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Tarabichi Majd , Shohat Noam , Goswami Karan , Alvand Abtin , Silibovsky Randi , Belden Katherine , Parvizi Javad
Published: January 2018

Background:

Next-generation sequencing is a well-established technique for sequencing of DNA and has recently gained attention in many fields of medicine. Our aim was to evaluate the accuracy of next-generation sequencing in identifying the causative organism(s) in patients with periprosthetic joint infection.

Methods:

In this prospective study, samples were collected from 65 revision arthroplasties (39 knees and 26 hips) and 17 primary arthroplasties (9 hips and 8 knees). Synovial fluid, deep tissue, and swabs were obtained at the time of the surgical procedure and were shipped to the laboratory for next-generation sequencing. Deep-tissue specimens were also sent to the institutional laboratory for culture. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for next-generation sequencing, using the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) definition of periprosthetic joint infection as the standard.

Results:

In 28 revisions, the cases were considered to be infected; cultures were positive in 17 cases (60.7% [95% confidence interval (CI), 40.6% to 78.5%]), and next-generation sequencing was positive in 25 cases (89.3% [95% CI, 71.8% to 97.7%]), with concordance between next-generation sequencing and culture in 15 cases. Among the 11 cases of culture-negative periprosthetic joint infection, next-generation sequencing was able to identify an organism in 9 cases (81.8% [95% CI, 48.2% to 97.7%]). Next-generation sequencing identified microbes in 9 (25.0% [95% CI, 12.1% to 42.2%]) of 36 aseptic revisions with negative cultures and in 6 (35.3% [95% CI, 14.2% to 61.7%]) of 17 primary total joint arthroplasties. Next-generation sequencing detected several organisms in most positive samples. However, in the majority of patients who were infected, 1 or 2 organisms were dominant.

Conclusions:

Next-generation sequencing may be a useful adjunct in identification of the causative organism(s) in culture-negative periprosthetic joint infection. Our findings suggest that some cases of monomicrobial periprosthetic joint infection may have additional organisms that escape detection when culture is used. Further study is required to determine the clinical implications of isolated organisms in samples from patients who are not thought to be infected.

Level of Evidence:

Diagnostic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Improved Crop Canopy and Water Balance Dynamics for Agroecosystem Modeling Using DayCent
Authors: Zhang Yao , Suyker Andrew , Paustian Keith
Published: January 2018

Core Ideas

Green leaf weight ratio (GLWR) of annual crops can be approximated by piece‐wise linear equations over the entire growing season.

Our modified green leaf area index (GLAI) method is simple yet both general and robust for simulation of GLAI of annual grain crops.

Incorporation of this new approach in DayCent model yielded substantial improvements in prediction of canopy dynamics, evapotranspiration and crop production.

Field experimental data of maize and soybean from two locations in the US Corn Belt and winter wheat in northern Oklahoma were used to develop a modified empirical method for simulating green leaf area index (GLAI) in the DayCent model. The method is based on the change of green leaf weight ratio (GLWR) as a function of phasic development in grain crops, in which GLWR decreases as growing degree days increase. In the previous version of DayCent, GLWR was assumed constant for annual crops and GLAI increased proportional to above‐ground biomass from post‐emergence until reaching full canopy and was then assumed to remain constant until harvest. The simulated results from the modified DayCent model compared well with field measurement of GLAI and aboveground biomass for all three crops (avg. R2 of approximately 0.8). The new GLAI algorithm yielded a substantial improvement in simulated canopy dynamics as well as evapotranspiration and soil–water content, especially in late growing season period, with the improved representation of canopy senescence. The overall R2 for canopy cover improved from 0.66 to 0.93 for maize and 0.52 to 0.88 for soybean; the R2 for weekly ET in late growing season increased from 0.53 to 0.82 for the Nebraska site. Simulation of biomass and grain yield by the modified model was also improved relative to the prior DayCent version for maize (R2 increased from 0.47 to 0.69).
Steer and Pasture Productivity Influenced by Intensive Early Stocking plus Late Season Grazing
Authors: Owensby Clenton E. , Auen Lisa M.
Published: January 2018

Core Ideas

Preconditioning rangelands by heavy early grazing increases stocking rate.

Rotation of Intensive Early Stocking + Late‐Season Grazing with Intensive Early Stocking over two years sustains AGB.

A 2‐year rotation of Intensive Early Stocking + Late‐Season Grazing and Intensive Early Stocking increases net returns.

Steer gains, aboveground biomass (AGB) remaining at the end of the growing season, and economic returns of Kansas were measured on annually‐burned Kansas Flint Hills rangeland under different grazing management schemes. These systems included: Season‐Long Stocking (SLS‐C), Intensive Early Stocking (IES‐C) and a grazing system which included a two‐year rotation of IES‐Rotated (IES‐R), and IES + Late‐Season Grazing at the normal stocking rate (IES+LSG). No supplemental feeding occurred. Each treatment was applied each year; therefore there is a comparison of IES‐C and IES‐R. Previous work has shown that grazing at twice the normal stocking rate until mid‐season resulted in greater regrowth availability which, in the late season, resulted in steers gaining as well as or better than those stocked SLS‐C at the normal rate even though the stocking rate was higher than normal. The remaining AGB at season's end on pastures grazed under the IES+LSG treatment was lower than annual IES in seven of the 10 year, but that on IES‐R pastures did not differ from IES‐C. Average SLS‐C steer gains (lb/steer) were less in eight of the 10 year than gains for steers grazed season‐long under the IES+LSG. In the other two years, SLS‐C steer gains were equal to that of the steers grazed season‐long under the IES+LSG. Steer gains per acre were always greater on pastures grazed under IES or for the two‐year rotation of IES+LSG and IES‐R system compared to SLS‐C. Net returns ($) per acre were approximately 50% greater under IES and 75% greater for the two‐year rotation system compared to SLS‐C pastures.
Mapping Soil Organic Carbon and Organic Matter Fractions by Geographically Weighted Regression
Authors: Costa Elias Mendes , Tassinari Wagner de Souza , Pinheiro Helena Saraiva Koenow , Beutler Sidinei Julio , dos Anjos Lucia Helena Cunha
Published: January 2018

The soil organic matter (SOM) content and dynamic are related to vegetation cover, climate, relief, and geology; these factors have strong variation in space in the southeastern of Brazil. The objective of the study was to compare and evaluate performance of classical multiple linear regressions (MLR) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models to predict soil organic carbon (SOC) and chemical fractions of organic matter in the Brazilian southeastern mountainous region. The regression models were fitted based on SOC and chemical fractions of SOM. The points (n = 89) were selected by pedologist's experience along transects and toposequences. The covariates were also selected using the empirical knowledge of pedologists when choosing variables that drive soil carbon content and its dynamics. Geology map, legacy soils map, terrain attributes derived from digital elevation model, and remote sensing indices derived from RapidEye sensor bands were used as covariates. In all MLR models (except for fulvic acid fraction [FAF]), the legacy soil map was selected as a covariate by the stepwise approach. The geology map was not selected as important covariate to predict FAF and humin (HUM). At least one variable derived from remote sensing was selected by the adjusted models. For the prediction of the SOC, HUM, and FAF, the GWR models had the highest performance. The MLR models extrapolated the results, especially for SOC. The relationships among SOC, SOM fractions, and environmental covariates were affected by local landscape variability, and the GWR model was better at modeling.

Core Ideas

Landscape aids the understanding of soil organic matter dynamics in mountainous areas.

Models to predict SOM can be geographically weighted by environmental covariates.

Digital soil mapping techniques can improve methods to spatially represent SOM.
Overseeding Cool‐Season Annual Legumes and Grasses into Dormant ‘Tifton 85’ Bermudagrass for Forage and Biomass
Authors: White Joshua A. , Muir James P. , Lambert Barry D.
Published: January 2018

Overseeding dormant bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] ‘Tifton 85’ with cool‐season annuals in the southeastern United States could provide winter and spring forage or bioenergy feedstock. We overseeded cool‐season annual legumes and grasses in monocultures or mixtures into dormant Tifton 85 and compared aboveground dry matter (DM) and N yields of single harvests at peak biomass production and a multiple harvest forage system. We also measured first‐cut spring Tifton 85 yields. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yielded as much or more (P ≤ 0.05) biomass in a single‐harvest system than other grasses only during a dry cool season. Well‐distributed precipitation, in combination with multiple cool‐season grass legume harvests, resulted in lower yields than the single harvest system, whereas the reverse occurred when precipitation was erratic. Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) matured later in the spring, and monocultures or mixes with it yielded more (P ≤ 0.05) DM and N than the more precocious crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.). A drier cool season followed by a spring with good precipitation, as well as repeated cool‐season grass and legume harvests, resulted in more (P ≤ 0.05) spring first‐cut Tifton 85 DM regrowth. Results provide several management options to maximize cool‐season, annual legume, and grass bioenergy feedstock or forage while minimizing negative and maximizing positive effects on subsequent early spring Tifton 85 regrowth.
Removing the Effects of Iron Oxides from Vis‐NIR Spectra for Soil Organic Matter Prediction
Authors: Liu Ya , Xie Xianli , Wang Miao , Zhao Qiguo , Pan Xianzhang
Published: January 2018

Core Ideas

Iron oxides decreased the prediction accuracy of soil organic matter (SOM).

External parameter orthogonalization (EPO) was used initially to alleviate iron oxides effects.

Prediction accuracy of SOM was greatly improved from original models.

Recently, visible and near‐infrared (vis‐NIR) spectroscopy has been widely used to predict soil organic matter (SOM) contents because it is highly efficient and inexpensive. However, iron oxides interfere with the spectral characteristics of SOM, thereby decreasing the SOM prediction accuracy. In this study, the spectra of 267 soil samples from South China were used to investigate the effects of iron oxides on spectral reflectance, and external parameter orthogonalization (EPO) was implemented to remove the effects of the iron oxides. To examine the effectiveness of EPO, two commonly used modeling methods—partial least squares regression (PLSR) and least‐squares support vector machines regression (LS‐SVMR)—were applied to establish prediction models using spectra with and without EPO correction. The EPO algorithm effectively reduced the effects of iron oxides. Compared with the results calculated from the original spectra, the prediction accuracies derived from the EPO‐processed spectra using the two modeling methods were greatly improved. Additionally, the LS‐SVMR method performed better than the PLSR method, with a coefficient of determination of the prediction (R2p) of 0.91, a root mean square error of the prediction (RMSEp) of 4.31 g kg–1, a ratio of the standard deviation to the root mean square error of the prediction (RPD) of 3.31 and a ratio of performance to interquartile range (RPIQ) of 4.45. The results demonstrated that the EPO method improved the accuracy of SOM prediction in soils rich in iron oxides. This method has the potential to improve the accuracy of SOM prediction in other soils rich in iron oxides worldwide.
Determination of the Concentration and Isotopic Composition of Soil Carbon in Arid Soils
Authors: Ketchian Elana , Trimble Brittany , Poulson Simon R. , Verburg Paul S. J.
Published: January 2018

Core Ideas

Measurement of inorganic and organic C in arid soils can be challenging.

Acid dissolution does not affect amount and isotopic composition of organic C.

Loss on ignition is unreliable when measuring isotopic composition of inorganic C upon heating.

Accurate quantification of organic C (OC) and inorganic C (IC) in arid soils is critical given that arid lands make up a substantial part of the terrestrial surface and IC is often the dominant C pool. Two methods were tested to quantify the percent OC and IC and the 13C isotopic composition on soils prepared by mixing a carbonate‐free surface soil with a ground marble tile achieving varying ratios of OC versus. IC. The loss on ignition percent C and δ13C data showed that at 400°C not all organic C was volatilized making this method unreliable at higher OC fractions. Additions of 1M HCl did not alter the amount and isotopic composition of the OC regardless of the relative amounts of OC versus IC present. Overall, the best method for measuring soil C concentration and δ13C depends on the relative concentrations of OC versus IC that are present in the soil.
Estimating the Contribution of Groundwater to the Root Zone of Winter Wheat Using Root Density Distribution Functions
Authors: Zhu Yonghua , Ren Liliang , Horton Robert , Lü Haishen , Wang Zhenlong , Yuan Fei
Published: January 2018

Core Ideas

Winter wheat hydrological growth seasons were used for the first time.

A fixed root density distribution function was unsuitable for winter wheat.

How to quantify winter wheat growth at its optimal state was a key.

Daily CGWR for different hydrological growing seasons were estimated by a piecewise function.

For winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that grows during the rainless season, the contribution of groundwater to the root zone (CGWR) is an important water source for growth. Accurately estimating the CGWR is important for making decisions on irrigation and discharge for winter wheat fields and preventing water pollution. Because winter wheat slows and even stops root growth over winter, so the fixed root density distribution function that is suitable for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] may not suit winter wheat calculations. Therefore, when estimating the CGWR of winter wheat with the numerical model HYDRUS‐1D, the root density distribution function should first be determined from two types: fixed or piecewise root density distribution functions. Based on field observations and local weather data for 2004–2005 and 2005–2006, HYDRUS‐1D was evaluated with different root density distribution functions by comparing simulated and measured root zone soil water contents. The evaluated model with the most suitable distribution function was used to estimate the daily CGWR for six winter wheat hydrological growth seasons. For all seasons, winter wheat growth was assumed to be at its optimal state. The main results were: (i) a piecewise root density distribution function was the most suitable for winter wheat; (ii) simulated seasonal CGWRs were 154, 128, and 136 mm in the dry, normal, and wet seasons, respectively; and (iii) the CGWR for winter wheat transpiration was about 58, 47, and 69% of the total in dry, normal, and wet seasons, respectively. Overall, we concluded that accurate description of the root density distribution was helpful to estimate the CGWR.
Many-body localization of spinless fermions with attractive interactions in one dimension
Authors: Lin Sheng-Hsuan , Sbierski Björn , Dorfner Florian , Karrasch Christoph , Heidrich-Meisner Fabian
Published: January 2018

We study the finite-energy density phase diagram of spinless fermions
with attractive interactions in one dimension in the presence of
uncorrelated diagonal disorder. Unlike the case of repulsive
interactions, a delocalized Luttinger-liquid phase persists at weak
disorder in the ground state, which is a well-known result. We revisit
the ground-state phase diagram and show that the recently introduced
occupation-spectrum discontinuity computed from the eigenspectrum of the
one-particle density matrix is noticeably smaller in the Luttinger
liquid compared to the localized regions. Moreover, we use the
functional renormalization group scheme to study the finite-size
dependence of the conductance, which also resolves the existence of the
Luttinger liquid and is computationally cheap. Our main results concern
the finite-energy density case. Using exact diagonalization and by
computing various established measures of the many-body
localization-delocalization transition, we argue that the
zero-temperature Luttinger liquid smoothly evolves into a finite-energy
density ergodic phase without any intermediate phase transition.
Spin-off policy and efficiency in the Indonesian Islamic banking industry
Authors: Nur Rianto Al Arif M. , Haribowo Ismawati , Suherlan Ade
Published: January 2018

Indonesian Islamic Banking Act requires conventional banks to spin-off their Islamic business units if they had fulfilled the spin-off criteria. Some of the Islamic business units had done the spin-off process although they are not fulfilling the spin-off criteria. The data showed that there is an efficiency decline after the spun-off. This study is going to examine the spin-off’s impact on the efficiency in spin-off banks. The method used in this paper is a difference-in-differences analysis. The sample used is four spin’s banks as treatment objects and two Islamic full-pledge banks as control objects. This research shows that there is an impact of spin-off policy on the efficiency in spin-off banks. There is an efficiency decrease in spin-off banks after the activities. It implies that the spin-off policy is not the only strategy that can be implemented. The policy-makers can choose other strategies to enhance the development of Islamic banking industry.
The effects of perceived organizational support and social comparison on work attitudes
Authors: Herachwati Nuri , Sulistiawan Jovi , Alfirdaus Zainiyah , Gonzales B. N. Mario
Published: January 2018

This study is based on the results of a survey research conducted by JobStreet Indonesia on its members, which has surprisingly found that more than 70% of employees lack clarity on the goals of their career. Drawing from the social exchange theory, employees tend to show positive work attitudes when they perceive that their organization paid attention to them. The objective of this study is to assess how significant the influence of Perceived Organizational Support (POS) is on career satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover intention. Besides organizational perspective, as stated by the social comparison theory, the way individuals perform both upward and downward comparisons could be expected to affect career satisfaction. Also, this research uses career commitment as a moderator variable that can strengthen or weaken the influence among variables, which is the employee’s commitment towards their organization and competitiveness within their respective work group. The research has found some interesting results. It was shown that there is no significant relationship between POS and career satisfaction, career satisfaction and turnover intention, organizational support and turnover intention, and both upward and downward social comparison and turnover intention. The moderating effects of career commitment were not proven. In comparison, all of the moderating effects of a competitive work group were proven together with the relationship between upward social comparison and turnover intention.
Reconstruction of terrestrial water storage anomalies in Northwest China during 1948–2002 using GRACE and GLDAS products
Authors: Yang Peng , Xia Jun , Zhan Chesheng , Wang Tiejun
Published: January 2018

Commencement of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) provides an alternative way to monitor changes in terrestrial water storage (TWS) at large scales. However, GRACE dataset spans from 2002 to present, which greatly limits the application of GRACE data for long-term hydrological studies. Thus, the general linear model (GLM), random forest (RF), support vector machines (SVM), and artificial neural networks (ANN) methods were used to reconstruct the time series of terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSA, i.e., remove the average value from the time series) in Northwest China (NWC) during 1948–2002 based on the GRACE TWSA during 2003–2015 and hydrological data from the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) during 1948–2010. The results showed that soil moisture (SM) anomalies, or the combination of SM, canopy water (CW), and snow water equivalent (SWE) anomalies were better than the other anomalies of GLDAS in NWC. RF method can be regarded as the optimal method to reconstruct TWSA in NWC in the four models. A negative relationship was found between the reconstructed TWSAs and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The method could also offer an approach to reconstruct TWSA and drought events in large river basins during the past several decades.
Effect of source water/wastewater quality on bacterial removal during electrocoagulation
Authors: Sruthi Gudla , Ahammed M. Mansoor , Makwana Abhipsa R.
Published: January 2018

Bacterial removal during electrocoagulation (EC) was investigated employing samples from four different water/wastewater sources, namely, greywater, river water, secondary treated sewage and tap water spiked with Escherichia coli. Effects of current density and electrolysis time on the bacterial removal with aluminium electrodes were evaluated. For greywater, river water and secondary treated sewage, total coliform and E. coli removal efficiencies were not significantly different for the tested samples and varied in the range of 2.22–2.53 log10 units at a current density of 1 mA/cm2 and electrolysis time of 30 min. Higher removals up to 3.80 log10 units could be obtained at higher current density of 5 mA/cm2. Heterotrophic bacterial removals were higher compared with coliforms for the tested samples. Further, higher removal was obtained with spiked E. coli in tap water compared with naturally occurring coliforms in other samples. A comparison of bacterial removal by chemical coagulation (CC) employing alum at optimum dose with that by EC with 1 mA/cm2 current density and 30 min electrolysis time showed significantly higher removal by EC (2.22–2.53 log10 removal) compared with CC (1.40–1.80 log10 removal) for the three tested samples. Upon storage up to 48 h, no significant regrowth/decay of organisms was observed in the EC-treated samples.
Uczeń z wadą słuchu w integracyjnym i włączającym systemie nauczania
Authors: Wereszka Katarzyna
Published: January 2018

Dziecko z wadą słuchu, podobnie jak jego słyszący rówieśnicy, ma w Polsce prawo do nauki. Jest ono realizowane w systemie edukacji ogólnodostępnej, integracyjnej i specjalnej. Wyboru placówki dla dziecka dokonują jego rodzice na podstawie orzeczenia zespołu specjalistów z poradni psychologiczno-pedagogicznej o potrzebie kształcenia w odpowiednim typie placówki. W artykule przedstawiono najczęstsze problemy edukacyjne dziecka z wadą słuchu, które jest objęte nauczaniem w systemie edukacji integracyjnej i włączającej. Analizie poddano również przyczyny powyższych problemów, a także wskazano propozycje ich rozwiązania.
Umiejscowienie kontroli rodzicielskiej matek a ich współpraca ze specjalistami w procesie terapii dzieci z opóźnieniem rozwoju psychoruchowego
Authors: Lew-Koralewicz Aneta
Published: January 2018

Celem przeprowadzonych badań było udzielenie odpowiedzi na pytanie o lokalizację kontroli wychowawczej matek dzieci z opóźnieniem rozwoju psychoruchowego, które podejmowały współpracę w procesie wczesnej interwencji oraz matek, które wykazywały trudności w podejmowaniu działań rehabilitacyjnych i współdziałaniu ze specjalistami. W wyniku przeprowadzonych badań stwierdzono, że matki, które mają trudności w podejmowaniu współpracy w procesie wczesnego wspomagania rozwoju dziecka, mają większe nasilenie zewnętrznego umiejscowienia kontroli niż matki, które nawiązują dobrą współpracę ze specjalistami i angażują się w proces pomocowy.
Patriotyzm w ujęciu Jacka Woronieckiego: podpowiedzi dla współczesnej pedagogiki
Authors: Boużyk Maria
Published: January 2018

W artykule została podjęta kwestia patriotyzmu jako elementu w systemie wartości. Analizę oparto o przemyślenia filozoficzne Jacka Woronieckiego (1878–1949), pokazując, że mogą być nadal dobrym punktem odniesienia dla pedagogów w poszukiwaniach podstaw teoretycznych wychowania do patriotyzmu. Odkrycie istoty patriotyzmu może być pomocne przede wszystkim w rozpoznawaniu sensu działań wychowawczych w konfrontacji z ideami globalizmu czy z procesami integracyjnymi, które dokonują się w Europie. Za Woronieckim określa się patriotyzm jako sprawność moralną, należącą do jednej z czterech cnót kardynalnych, tj. do sprawiedliwości. Wskazuje się na jego mocne komponenty emocjonalne, a zarazem podkreśla, że, jak każda cnota, buduje się na wewnętrznej wolności człowieka, służąc zarazem jej ochronie. Zdolność przejawiania postaw patriotycznych świadczy o dojrzałości osobowej: człowiek odkrywając spoiwo relacji społecznych, jakim jest kultura, staje się gotowy do służby na rzecz ojczyzny. Artykuł składa się z dwóch części. W pierwszej części zostanie przedstawiony problem wagi wychowania uczuć patriotycznych, w drugiej – kwestia miłości ojczyzny jako cnoty moralnej.
Nadzór kuratora sądowego wobec ucznia wagarującego
Authors: Sajdak Martyna
Published: January 2018

Współczesne badania ukazują, że wśród młodzieży spotyka się coraz częściej występujące niedostosowanie społeczne wynikające z czynników osobowościowych i środowiskowych. Do patologii społecznych zaliczane są także wagary. Sąd rodzinny może orzec ustanowienie nadzoru kuratorskiego nad nieletnim wagarującym ustawicznie. Kurator wciela się wtedy w rolę swoistego koordynatora służb pracujących na rzecz małoletniego. Niniejszy artykuł ma charakter teoretyczno-empiryczny. Jego celem jest określenie roli kuratora sądowego wobec ucznia wagarującego. Przedstawia zarys problematyki wagarów, ich definicji, przyczyn, rodzajów i skutków oraz metody i techniki pracy kuratora sądowego, relacje łączące go z podopiecznym i jego środowiskiem, a także sukcesy i porażki wynikające z ich współpracy. Opisuje również wyniki badań empirycznych przeprowadzonych wśród kuratorów sądowych.
Targeting Cytosolic Phospholipase A2α for Novel Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Authors: Soubhye Jalal , van Antwerpen Pierre , Dufrasne Francois
Published: January 2018

Group IV cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2α) plays a critical role in inflammatory
processes. It produces arachidonic acid which is the main source of the pro-inflammatory eicosanoids
mediators that are important in innate immune system. In some cases, these proinflammatory
mediators cause damages to the host tissues and therefore promote autoimmune
diseases. Consequently, development of potent inhibitors against cPLA2α could improve the
therapy of inflammatory diseases. In the last two decades, intense efforts have been done to find
potent cPLA2α inhibitors. Several scaffolds have been developed with the use of structureactivity
relationship (SAR) studies, and potent inhibitors have been obtained. The poor absorption
of these compounds from intestine was the main challenge for clinical application. This review
illustrates the search for cPLA2α inhibitors, their SAR studies and biological effects.
Searching for New Targets and Treatments in the Battle Against Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck, with Specific Focus on Tumours of the Tongue
Authors: Sgaramella Nicola , Gu Xiaolian , Boldrup Linda , Coates Philip J , Fahraeus Robin , Califano Luigi , Tartaro Gianpaolo , Colella Giuseppe , Spaak Lena Norberg , Strom Adrian , Wilms Torben , Muzio Lorenzo Lo , Orabona Giovanni Dell`Aversana , Santagata Mario , Loljung Lotta , Rossiello Riccardo , Danielsson Karin , Strindlund Klas , Lillqvist Sandra , Nylander Karin
Published: January 2018

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, SCCHN, is a heterogeneous group of tumours
not only concerning the site of origin but also regarding aetiology. The 5-year survival for the
whole group of SCCHN tumours has not significantly improved over the last 20-25 years. Apart from
tumour spread to lymph nodes, N status, gains and losses of specific chromosomes are the only factors
shown to be independent prognostic markers for these tumours. Worldwide, an increasing number
of people ≤ 40 years are seen being affected by tongue SCC, the most common tumour within the
SCCHN group. Even without any clinical signs of metastasis, up to 30% of all tongue SCC have histologically
detectable spread to lymph nodes.

In this mini review, field cancerization, tumour microenvironment, the so called EMT (epithelial
mesenchymal transition) process and the role of viruses in development of SCCHN are discussed as
well as potential new therapeutic targets.

For the group of tongue SCC, with the increasing incidence seen in young patients and particularly
women, new data with impact on prognosis and treatment are urgently needed. But as long as data
from the analyses of several sub sites are presented as valid for the whole group of tumours, this vital
point is missed.
Ik zou daar een boek kunnen over schrijven. De charmes van dagelijksheid (vervolg).
Authors: van Ryssel Daniel
Published: January 2018

Januari 1952.
Ik zou daar een boek kunnen over schrijven. De charmes van dagelijksheid (vervolg).
Authors: van Ryssel Daniel
Published: January 2018

Januari 1954.
Ik zou daar een boek kunnen over schrijven. De charmes van dagelijksheid (vervolg).
Authors: van Ryssel Daniel
Published: January 2018

juli 1954.
Ik zou daar een boek kunnen over schrijven. De charmes van dagelijksheid (vervolg).
Authors: van Ryssel Daniel
Published: January 2018

januari 1956
Ik zou daar een boek kunnen over schrijven. De charmes van dagelijksheid (vervolg).
Authors: van Ryssel Daniel
Published: January 2018

juli 1956
Gentse memoriedagen: 26-27-28-29-30-31 oktober
Authors: Collumbien Hugo
Published: January 2018

Wat gebeurde er te Gent op een 26-27-28-29-30-31 oktober.
A New Influenza-Tracking Smartphone App (Flu-Report) Based on a Self-Administered Questionnaire: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)
Authors: Fujibayashi Kazutoshi , Takahashi Hiromizu , Tanei Mika , Uehara Yuki , Yokokawa Hirohide , Naito Toshio
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

Influenza infections can spread rapidly, and influenza outbreaks are a major public health concern worldwide. Early detection of signs of an influenza pandemic is important to prevent global outbreaks. Development of information and communications technologies for influenza surveillance, including participatory surveillance systems involving lay users, has recently increased. Many of these systems can estimate influenza activity faster than the conventional influenza surveillance systems. Unfortunately, few of these influenza-tracking systems are available in Japan.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the flu-tracking ability of Flu-Report, a new influenza-tracking mobile phone app that uses a self-administered questionnaire for the early detection of influenza activity.

METHODS

Flu-Report was used to collect influenza-related information (ie, dates on which influenza infections were diagnosed) from November 2016 to March 2017. Participants were adult volunteers from throughout Japan, who also provided information about their cohabiting family members. The utility of Flu-Report was evaluated by comparison with the conventional influenza surveillance information and basic information from an existing large-scale influenza-tracking system (an automatic surveillance system based on electronic records of prescription drug purchases).

RESULTS

Information was obtained through Flu-Report for approximately 10,094 volunteers. In total, 2134 participants were aged <20 years, 6958 were aged 20-59 years, and 1002 were aged ≥60 years. Between November 2016 and March 2017, 347 participants reported they had influenza or an influenza-like illness in the 2016 season. Flu-Report-derived influenza infection time series data displayed a good correlation with basic information obtained from the existing influenza surveillance system (rho, ρ=.65, P=.001). However, the influenza morbidity ratio for our participants was approximately 25% of the mean influenza morbidity ratio for the Japanese population. The Flu-Report influenza morbidity ratio was 5.06% (108/2134) among those aged <20 years, 3.16% (220/6958) among those aged 20-59 years, and 0.59% (6/1002) among those aged ≥60 years. In contrast, influenza morbidity ratios for Japanese individuals aged <20 years, 20-59 years, and ≥60 years were recently estimated at 31.97% to 37.90%, 8.16% to 9.07%, and 2.71% to 4.39%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Flu-Report supports easy access to near real-time information about influenza activity via the accumulation of self-administered questionnaires. However, Flu-Report users may be influenced by selection bias, which is a common issue associated with surveillance using information and communications technologies. Despite this, Flu-Report has the potential to provide basic data that could help detect influenza outbreaks.
Reproductive Health and Medication Concerns for Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Thematic and Quantitative Analysis Using Social Listening (Preprint)
Authors: Keller Michelle Sophie , Mosadeghi Sasan , Cohen Erica R , Kwan James , Spiegel Brennan Mason Ross
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects many individuals of reproductive age. Most IBD medications are safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding; however, observational studies find that women with IBD have higher rates of voluntary childlessness due to fears about medication use during pregnancy. Understanding why and how individuals with IBD make decisions about medication adherence during important reproductive periods can help clinicians address patient fears about medication use.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to gain a more thorough understanding of how individuals taking IBD medications during key reproductive periods make decisions about their medication use.

METHODS

We collected posts from 3000 social media sites posted over a 3-year period and analyzed the posts using qualitative descriptive content analysis. The first level of analysis, open coding, identified individual concepts present in the social media posts. We subsequently created a codebook from significant or frequently occurring codes in the data. After creating the codebook, we reviewed the data and coded using our focused codes. We organized the focused codes into larger thematic categories.

RESULTS

We identified 7 main themes in 1818 social media posts. Individuals used social media to (1) seek advice about medication use related to reproductive health (13.92%, 252/1818); (2) express beliefs about the safety of IBD therapies (7.43%, 135/1818); (3) discuss personal experiences with medication use (16.72%, 304/1818); (4) articulate fears and anxieties about the safety of IBD therapies (11.55%, 210/1818); (5) discuss physician-patient relationships (3.14%, 57/1818); (6) address concerns around conception, infertility, and IBD medications (17.38%, 316/1818); and (7) talk about IBD symptoms during and after pregnancy and breastfeeding periods (11.33%, 206/1818).

CONCLUSIONS

Beliefs around medication safety play an important role in whether individuals with IBD decide to take medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Having a better understanding about why patients stop or refuse to take certain medications during key reproductive periods may allow clinicians to address specific beliefs and attitudes during office visits.
Sex Similarities in Postoperative Recovery and Health Care Contacts Within 14 Days With mHealth Follow-Up: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Jaensson Maria , Dahlberg Karuna , Nilsson Ulrica
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that women tend to have a poorer postanesthesia recovery than men. Our research group has developed a mobile phone app called Recovery Assessment by Phone Points (RAPP) that includes the Swedish Web version of the Quality of Recovery (SwQoR) questionnaire to monitor and assess postoperative recovery.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate sex differences in postoperative recovery and the number of health care contacts within 14 postoperative days in a cohort of day-surgery patients using RAPP.

METHODS

This study was a secondary analysis from a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Therefore, we did not calculate an a priori sample size regarding sex differences. We conducted the study at 4 day-surgery settings in Sweden from October 2015 to July 2016. Included were 494 patients (220 male and 274 female participants) undergoing day surgery. The patients self-assessed their postoperative recovery for 14 postoperative days using the RAPP.

RESULTS

There were no significant sex differences in postoperative recovery or the number of health care contacts. Subgroup analysis showed that women younger than 45 years reported significantly higher global scores in the SwQoR questionnaire (hence a poorer recovery) on postoperative days 1 to 10 than did women who were 45 years of age or older (P=.001 to P=.008). Men younger than 45 years reported significantly higher global scores on postoperative days 2 to 6 than did men 45 years of age or older (P=.001 to P=.006). Sex differences in postoperative recovery were not significant between the age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found sex similarities in postoperative recovery and the number of health care contacts. However, subgroup analysis showed that age might be an independent factor for poorer recovery in both women and men. This knowledge can be used when informing patients what to expect after discharge.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02492191; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02492191 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6y2UtMbvz)
The Belt and Road Initiative: Implications for China and East Asian Economies
Authors: CHAN SARAH
Published: January 2018

The China-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is set to become a formidabledevelopment programme and its implications will be far reaching for East Asia, including ASEAN and China. It will provide further momentum for intra-Asian investment and trade flows and the implementation of such a strategy will also help to accelerate China's mergers and acquisitions activities in infrastructure, logistics and tourism. The BRI is expected to raise the Renminbi's international use in trade settlement and financing. A considerable amount of financing is estimated to come from Chinese institutions, particularly policy banks such as China Development Bank and a range of government-linked institutions. This article discusses China's funding support and investment to improve regional connectivity and analyses the repercussions of China's financial commitments under the Belt and Road Initiative for East Asia as well as its own economy.
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Authors: Suen Vivian Marques Miguel
Published: January 2018

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