bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of thermal-resistant special clothes in three-dimensional environment
Authors: Petrosova I A , Konstantinova N I , Andreeva E G , Bokova E S , Kovalenko G M
Published: October 2020

The article is devoted to fundamental and applied research in the field of fire safety of textile materials. The purpose of this work is the design and creation of special-purpose clothing, involving the effects of electricity and / or elevated temperatures, by: scientifically-based selection of fabrics and accessories with protective properties. Special design solutions were developed to protect the most likely sites of injury. The authors completed the studies to assess the quality of planting samples of heat-resistant products confirmed that the magnitude of the increments, calculated taking into account the dynamic movements and properties of heat-resistant materials, provide high ergonomic characteristics and ease of use of clothing when performing professional duties in extreme conditions involving the effects of electricity and elevated temperatures. At present, the process of 3D representation of the external basic shape of the product has been studied to the greatest extent since simple silhouette shapes of the clothing can be mathematically described. The surface of the outer clothing can be described by silhouette projections in the frontal and sagittal planes, horizontal sections, as well as informative points located on the contours of the sections characterizing the silhouette. The quantitative characteristics of the shape of the designed product in three dimensions can be magnitudes of projection increases as the gap between the skin and the clothing. In addition, such parameters of horizontal section contours as the spatial gap and its angular measure facilitate the process of describing behavior of the material in the finished product relative to the surface of the person’s figure. According to the above mentioned aspect, it is obvious that the three-dimensional scanning method can be a tool not only for studying the behavior of heat-resistant materials in special clothes to protect against an electric arc, but also it allows creating an actual database of properties of heat-resistant materials.
Features of designing small architecture objects in the design of environmental space
Authors: Vasilenko E V , Vasilenko P G , Goltseva O S , Belyakova T E
Published: October 2020

The article deals with research on the organization of modern design of small architectural objects in the city environment. Analysis of the architecture of the environment of modern cities has shown that design and architecture are not given due attention. The artistic and constructive design solution of small architecture objects in the urban environment should be appropriate in the specific conditions of the districts, functionally justified, convenient to use-ergonomically, economically, practically, and should also meet modern aesthetic requirements. Although elements of the external equipment of the environment are not the main means of composing urban architecture, they significantly enrich planning and architectural and spatial solutions, and contribute to the formation of an integral architectural appearance of a modern city.
Novel green and cost-effective preparation of acetylated lignin at high temperature without further separation
Authors: Xia Liang , Li Xiaobao , Pan Nan , Yu Hang , Wang Eryu
Published: October 2020

In order to realize the green and low-cost industrial production of acetylated lignin, this work proposes the heterogeneous reaction to acetylated lignin (ACAL) without catalysts and solvents at high temperature. The influence of reaction temperature and reaction time were investigated by IR, UV–vis, thermogravimetric analysis and water contact angle. Results showed that the optimum technological conditions were about 150 °C and 6 h. The degree of acetylation and the amount of residual phenolic hydroxyl groups of ACAL was 2.49 and 34.2%, respectively. Compared with conventional acetylated lignin, the ACAL had similar hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 62.0°. The DTG peak of ACAL at about 200 °C reduced to 0.07 than the traditional acetylated lignin. The tensile strength and elongation of poly-lactic acid with 5 wt% ACAL increased to 64.03 MPa and 10.80%, respectively. ACAL revealed a great potential for mass production and applications owing to the eco-friendly and cost-effective modified method.
Determination of hypertension disease using chirp z-transform and statistical features of optimal band-pass filtered short-time photoplethysmography signals
Authors: Aydemir Tugba , Sahin Mehmet , Aydemir Onder
Published: October 2020

Hypertension is the condition where the normal blood pressure is high. This situation is manifested by the high pressure of the blood in the vein towards the vessel wall. Hypertension mostly affects the brain, kidneys, eyes, arteries and heart. Therefore, the diagnosis of this common disease is important. It may take days, weeks or even months for diagnosis. Often a device, called a blood pressure holter, is connected to the person for 24 or 48 h and the person’s blood pressure is recorded at certain intervals. Diagnosis can be made by the specialist physician considering these results. In recent years, various physiological measurement techniques have been used to accelerate this time-consuming diagnostic phase and intelligent models have been proposed. One of these techniques is photopletesmography (PPG). In this study, a model for the detection of hypertension disease in individuals was proposed using chirp z-transform and statistical features (total band power, autoregressive model parameters, standard deviation of signal’s derivative and zero crossing rate) of optimal band-pass filtered short-time PPG signals. The proposed method was successfully applied to 657 PPG trials, which each of them had only 2.1 s signal length and achieved a classification accuracy rate of 77.52% on the test data. The results showed that the diagnosis of hypertension can be performed effectively by chirp z-transform and statistical features and support vector machine classifier using optimal frequency range of 1.4–6 Hz.
Role of hydrogen co-doping on opto-electronic behaviors of Na-H co-doped zinc oxide: a first principle study
Authors: Akhond MD Rajbanul , Sharif Ahmed
Published: October 2020

In this work, the electronic structure and optical properties are investigated within the framework of the density functional theory (DFT) for different Na-H co-doping scenarios to find out the suitability of H co-doping technique for achieving p-type conductivity in ZnO. Very low formation energies were found for the H co-doped systems compared to others which suggests that they can suppress other n-type impurities and increase the effect of p-type NaZn defects in the lattice. From the electronic structure calculations, we have found that NaZn doped structures with 50% H co-doping produces the best p-type behavior indicating importance of controlling annealing time. Moreover, from the optical calculations, it has been found that NaZn creates impurity states 174 meV above the valence band and electron concentration in these states can be controlled by H co-doping concentration. H co-doping has not produced any substantial lattice strain as compared to other dopants and structures with Na-H co-doping is transparent in the visible light range.
3D printed fiber sockets for plug and play micro-optics
Authors: Nair S Parvathi , Trisno Jonathan , Wang Hongtao , Yang Joel K W
Published: October 2020

Integrating micro-optical components at the end facet of an optical fiber enables compact optics to shape the output beam (e.g. collimating, focusing, and coupling to free space elements or photonic integrated circuits). However, the scalability of this approach is a longstanding challenge as these components must be aligned onto individual fiber facets. In this paper, we propose a socket that enables easy slotting of fibers, self-alignment, and coupling onto micro-optical components. This integrated socket can be detached from the substrate upon fiber insertion to create a stand-alone optical system. Fabrication is done using nanoscale 3D printing via two-photon polymerization lithography onto glass substrates, which allows multiple sockets to be patterned in a single print. We investigated variations in socket design and evaluated the performance of optical elements for telecom wavelengths. We obtained an alignment accuracy of ∼3.5 µm. These socket designs can be customized for high efficiency chip to fiber coupling and extended to other spectral ranges for free-form optics.
Feasibility study of wave-motion milling of carbon fiber reinforced plastic holes
Authors: Zhang Deyuan , Shao Zhenyu , Geng Daxi , Jiang Xinggang , Liu Yihang , Zhou Zehua , Li Shaomin
Published: October 2020

Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) has been applied in aeronautics, aerospace, automotive and medical industries due to its superior mechanical properties. However, due to its difficult-to-cut characteristic, various damages in twist drilling and chip removal clog in core drilling could happen, inevitably reducing hole quality and hole-manufacturing efficiency. This paper proposes the wave-motion milling (WMM) method for CFRP hole-manufacturing to improve hole quality. This paper presents a motion path model based on the kinematics of the WMM method. The wave-motion cutting mode in WMM was analyzed first. Then, comparison experiments on WMM and conventional helical milling (CHM) of CFRP were carried out under dry conditions. The results showed that the hole surface quality of the CFRP significantly improved with a decrease of 18.1%–36% of Ra value in WMM compared to CHM. WMM exerted a significantly weaker thrust force than that of CHM with a reduction of 12.0%–24.9% and 3%–7.7% for different axial feed per tooth and tangential feed per tooth, respectively. Meanwhile, the hole exit damages significantly decreased in WMM. The average tear length at the hole exit in WMM was reduced by 3.5%–29.5% and 35.5%–44.7% at different axial feed per tooth and tangential feed per tooth, respectively. Moreover, WMM significantly alleviated tool wear. The experimental results suggest that WMM is an effective and promising strategy for CFRP hole-manufacturing.
STOPPFall (Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions in older adults with high fall risk): a Delphi study by the EuGMS Task and Finish Group on Fall-Risk-Increasing Drugs
Authors: Seppala Lotta J , Petrovic Mirko , Ryg Jesper , Bahat Gulistan , Topinkova Eva , Szczerbińska Katarzyna , van der Cammen Tischa J M , Hartikainen Sirpa , Ilhan Birkan , Landi Francesco , Morrissey Yvonne , Mair Alpana , Gutiérrez-Valencia Marta , Emmelot-Vonk Marielle H , Mora María Ángeles Caballero , Denkinger Michael , Crome Peter , Jackson Stephen H D , Correa-Pérez Andrea , Knol Wilma , Soulis George , Gudmundsson Adalsteinn , Ziere Gijsbertus , Wehling Martin , O’Mahony Denis , Cherubini Antonio , van der Velde Nathalie
Published: October 2020

Background

Healthcare professionals are often reluctant to deprescribe fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs). Lack of knowledge and skills form a significant barrier and furthermore, there is no consensus on which medications are considered as FRIDs despite several systematic reviews. To support clinicians in the management of FRIDs and to facilitate the deprescribing process, STOPPFall (Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions in older adults with high fall risk) and a deprescribing tool were developed by a European expert group.

Methods

STOPPFall was created by two facilitators based on evidence from recent meta-analyses and national fall prevention guidelines in Europe. Twenty-four panellists chose their level of agreement on a Likert scale with the items in the STOPPFall in three Delphi panel rounds. A threshold of 70% was selected for consensus a priori. The panellists were asked whether some agents are more fall-risk-increasing than others within the same pharmacological class. In an additional questionnaire, panellists were asked in which cases deprescribing of FRIDs should be considered and how it should be performed.

Results

The panellists agreed on 14 medication classes to be included in the STOPPFall. They were mostly psychotropic medications. The panellists indicated 18 differences between pharmacological subclasses with regard to fall-risk-increasing properties. Practical deprescribing guidance was developed for STOPPFall medication classes.

Conclusion

STOPPFall was created using an expert Delphi consensus process and combined with a practical deprescribing tool designed to optimise medication review. The effectiveness of these tools in falls prevention should be further evaluated in intervention studies.
Halcyon: an accurate basecaller exploiting an encoder–decoder model with monotonic attention
Authors: Konishi Hiroki , Yamaguchi Rui , Yamaguchi Kiyoshi , Furukawa Yoichi , Imoto Seiya
Published: October 2020

Motivation

In recent years, nanopore sequencing technology has enabled inexpensive long-read sequencing, which promises reads longer than a few thousand bases. Such long-read sequences contribute to the precise detection of structural variations and accurate haplotype phasing. However, deciphering precise DNA sequences from noisy and complicated nanopore raw signals remains a crucial demand for downstream analyses based on higher-quality nanopore sequencing, although various basecallers have been introduced to date.

Results

To address this need, we developed a novel basecaller, Halcyon, that incorporates neural-network techniques frequently used in the field of machine translation. Our model employs monotonic-attention mechanisms to learn semantic correspondences between nucleotides and signal levels without any pre-segmentation against input signals. We evaluated performance with a human whole-genome sequencing dataset and demonstrated that Halcyon outperformed existing third-party basecallers and achieved competitive performance against the latest Oxford Nanopore Technologies’ basecallers.

Availabilityand implementation

The source code (halcyon) can be found at https://github.com/relastle/halcyon.
The effects of the phthalate DiNP on reproduction†
Authors: Yang Shuhong , Arcanjo Rachel Braz , Nowak Romana A
Published: October 2020

Di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) is a high molecular weight, general purpose, plasticizer used primarily in the manufacture of polymers and consumer products. It can be metabolized rapidly and does not bioaccumulate. The primary metabolite of DiNP is monoisononyl-phthalate (MiNP) and the secondary metabolites include three oxidative derivatives of DiNP, which have been identified mainly in urine: mono-oxoisononyl phthalate (MOINP or oxo-MiNP), mono-carboxyisooctyl phthalate (MCIOP, MCOP or cx-MiNP), and mono-hydroxyisononyl phthalate (MHINP or OH-MiNP). The secondary metabolites are very sensitive biomarkers of DiNP exposure while primary metabolites are not. As the usage of DiNP worldwide increases, studies evaluating its potential reproductive toxicity are becoming more prevalent in the literature. In studies on female animals, the researchers found that the exposure to DiNP appears to induce negative effects on ovarian function and fertility in animal models. Whether or not DiNP has direct effects on the uterus is still controversial, and the effects on human reproduction require much more research. Studies on males indicate that DiNP exposure has disruptive effects on male reproduction and fertility. Occupational studies also indicate that the exposure to DiNP might induce negative effects on male reproduction, but larger cohort studies are needed to confirm this. This review presents an overview of the literature regarding the reproductive effects of exposure to DiNP.
Positioning and Categorizing Mass Media Using Reaction Emojis on Facebook
Authors: Wang Ming-Hung
Published: October 2020

With the rapid growth of social network services, a paradigm shift in communication between media organizations and the audience has occurred. Numerous mass media agencies established fan pages on social platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, to disseminate breaking news, promote reports and interact with their audience. In this study, we leverage the reaction emojis delivered from users to media fan pages on Facebook to investigate how users react to media organizations and the implications of selective exposure. Using a 1-year-long observation of user activities on mass media pages, we perform a series of quantitative approaches to locate media agencies, measure the distances between them and cluster organizations into groups. A total of 30 fan pages of mass media organizations in Taiwan are investigated. The outcomes suggest that the report genres and topics are key factors to categorize media groups through reaction emojis from the online audience.
Computed tomography angiography-derived extracellular volume fraction predicts early recovery of left ventricular systolic function after transcatheter aortic valve replacement
Authors: Han Donghee , Tamarappoo Balaji , Klein Eyal , Tyler Jeffrey , Chakravarty Tarun , Otaki Yuka , Miller Robert , Eisenberg Evann , Park Rebekah , Singh Siddharth , Shiota Takahiro , Siegel Robert , Stegic Jasminka , Salseth Tracy , Cheng Wen , Dey Damini , Thomson Louise , Berman Daniel , Makkar Raj , Friedman John
Published: October 2020

Aims 

Recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after aortic valve replacement has prognostic importance in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). The mechanism by which myocardial fibrosis impacts LVEF recovery in AS is not well characterized. We sought to evaluate the predictive value of extracellular volume fraction (ECV) quantified by cardiac CT angiography (CTA) for LVEF recovery in patients with AS after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods and results 

In 109 pre-TAVR patients with LVEF <50% at baseline echocardiography, CTA-derived ECV was calculated as the ratio of change in CT attenuation of the myocardium and the left ventricular (LV) blood pool before and after contrast administration. Early LVEF recovery was defined as an absolute increase of ≥10% in LVEF measured by post-TAVR follow-up echocardiography within 6 months of the procedure. Early LVEF recovery was observed in 39 (36%) patients. The absolute increase in LVEF was 17.6 ± 8.8% in the LVEF recovery group and 0.9 ± 5.9% in the no LVEF recovery group (P < 0.001). ECV was significantly lower in patients with LVEF recovery compared with those without LVEF recovery (29.4 ± 6.1% vs. 33.2 ± 7.7%, respectively, P = 0.009). In multivariable analysis, mean pressure gradient across the aortic valve [odds ratio (OR): 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.11, P: 0.001], LV end-diastolic volume (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98–0.99, P: 0.035), and ECV (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86–0.99, P: 0.018) were independent predictors of early LVEF recovery.

Conclusion 

Increased myocardial ECV on CTA is associated with impaired LVEF recovery post-TAVR in severe AS patients with impaired LV systolic function.
Person-Centered Communication Between Health Care Professionals and COVID-19-Infected Older Adults in Acute Care Settings: Findings From Wuhan, China
Authors: Li Juan , Wang Jing , Kong Xiangjing , Gao Tingting , Wu Bei , Liu Jianmin , Chu Jing
Published: October 2020

Objectives

The current study aims to explore person-centered communication between health care professionals and COVID-19-infected older patients in acute care settings.

Methods

The current qualitative study explored the communication between professionals and COVID-19-infected older adults in the acute care setting through 2 rounds of interviews with physicians and nurses who provided direct care and treatment for COVID-19-infected older patients in Wuhan, China. We explored the possibilities and significance of facilitating effective communication despite multiple challenges in the pandemic. Conventional content analysis was adopted to analyze the rich data collected from our participants.

Results

It is possible and necessary to initiate and sustain person-centered communication despite multiple challenges brought by the pandemic. The achievement of person-centered communication can play significant roles in addressing challenges, building mutual trust, improving quality of care and relationships, and promoting treatment adherence and patients’ psychological well-being.

Discussion

It is challenging for health care professionals to provide care for COVID-19-infected older adults, especially for those with cognitive and sensory impairment, in acute care settings. Facilitating person-centered communication is a significant strategy in responding to the pandemic crisis and a core element of person-centered care.
Cross-Lagged Modeling of Cognition and Social Network Size in the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study
Authors: Casey Anne-Nicole S , Liu Zhixin , Kochan Nicole A , Sachdev Perminder S , Brodaty Henry
Published: October 2020

Objectives

This study assessed whether reciprocal relationships exist between cognitive function and the social network size of older adults, controlling for age, sex, education, medical conditions, and depressive symptoms.

Methods

Data were collected at biennial follow-ups over 6 years in the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study, a longitudinal cohort study including 1,037 community-based Sydney residents aged 70–90 years without dementia at baseline. We used random intercept cross-lagged panel models to investigate reciprocal associations between social network size and scores in each of 7 cognitive domains including a global score.

Results

Standardized models indicated that within-person deviation in expected language score predicted deviation in expected network size. Within-person deviation in prior expected social network size predicted deviation in expected executive function at year 6. Cross-lagged effects in models of both global cognition and memory, respectively, could not be attributed solely to within-person change.

Discussion

Findings support a co-constitutive view of cognitive function and social relationships in older age. Although both cognition and network size declined over time, slower than expected decline in language ability predicted less than expected contraction in social networks. A similar influence of network size on executive functioning indicated that relationships with friends and family outside of the home contributed significantly to the maintenance of higher order cognitive abilities in older late life. Diverse patterns of influence between cognitive domains and social network size over 6 years underscore the importance of assessing the complex and nuanced interplay between brain health and social relationships in older age.
Dual Biologic and Small Molecule Therapy for the Treatment of Refractory Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Dolinger Michael T , Spencer Elizabeth A , Lai Joanne , Dunkin David , Dubinsky Marla C
Published: October 2020

Background

Nontraditional combination of existing therapies is often the only option to avoid surgery in refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. We aim to assess the efficacy and safety of concomitant use of 2 biologic therapies or combination of biologic and tofacitinib in a refractory pediatric IBD cohort.

Methods

As part of an ongoing single-center observational cohort study of therapeutic outcomes in pediatric IBD patients (younger than 18 years), data were collected for patients receiving dual therapy. Primary outcome was 6 months of steroid-free remission. Secondary outcomes included time to steroid-free remission, change in serum biomarkers (C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and albumin between baseline and 6 months, and adverse events.

Results

Sixteen children (9 ulcerative colitis/IBD-unspecified, 7 Crohn’s disease), with a disease duration of 3 (2.1–5.0) years, initiated dual therapy at an age of 15.9 (13.5–16.8) years after failing ≥2 biologic therapies. Nine (56%) were treated with vedolizumab/tofacitinib, 4 (25%) with ustekinumab/vedolizumab, and 3 (19%) with ustekinumab/tofacitinib. Twelve (75%; 7 ulcerative colitis/IBD-unspecified, 5 Crohn’s disease ) achieved steroid-free remission at 6 months. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein decreased (P = 0.021 and P = 0.015, respectively) and albumin increased (P = 0.003) between baseline and 6 months. One patient on 30 mg of vedolizumab/tofacitinib and prednisone daily developed septic arthritis and a deep vein thrombosis.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that dual therapy may be an option for patients with limited therapeutic options remaining. Safety concerns should always be at the forefront of decision-making, and larger studies are needed to help confirm the preliminary safety data observed.
Factors affecting the adoption of e-health system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alanezi Fahad
Published: October 2020

Background

The Saudi government is trying to implement the e-health system throughout Saudi Arabia to promote accessible health services for its population. However, adoption of the e-health system has not been effective. Thus the objective of this study was to investigate the factors that influence the adoption of e-health in this country.

Methods

To carry out this research, a questionnaire was designed to obtain information on how people in Saudi Arabia use the e-health system and the problems they face when using this technology. The questionnaire was initially viewed by 438 people and 130 of them answered the survey.

Results

The results of this research on the adoption of the e-health system in Saudi Arabia indicated that the main factors preventing the implementation of this system were mainly related to the lack of a relationship between doctors and patients, fears about the possibility of violating data privacy and a lack of government regulations. In addition, there are certain demographic factors such as age, gender, residence, income, education and culture that create obstacles in the adoption of the e-health system.

Conclusions

This study suggests that professionals should contribute to modifying the e-health system and adding more government regulatory bodies to increase adoption. This will encourage end-users to trust the system. By modifying existing strategies, the results of this study can contribute to the successful implementation of the e-health system in Saudi Arabia.
Microalgae, a Boring Bivalve and a Coral—A Newly Described Association Between Two Coral Reef Bioeroders Within Their Coral Host
Authors: Fordyce A J , Ainsworth T D , Leggat W
Published: October 2020

Synopsis

Bioeroding organisms play an important part in shaping structural complexity and carbonate budgets on coral reefs. Species interactions between various bioeroders are an important area of study, as these interactions can affect net rates of bioerosion within a community and mediate how bioeroders respond to environmental change. Here we test the hypothesis that the biomass of endolithic bioeroding microalgae is positively associated with the presence of a macroboring bivalve. We compared the biomass and chlorophyll concentrations of microendolithic biofilms in branches of the coral Isopora palifera (Lamarck, 1816) that were or were not inhabited by a macroboring bivalve. Those branches with a macroborer present hosted ∼80% higher microbial biomass compared to adjacent branches from the same coral with no macroborer. Increased concentrations of chlorophyll b indicated that this was partly due to a greater abundance of green microalgae. This newly described association has important implications for the coral host as both the bivalve and the microalgae have been hypothesized as symbiotic.
Validation of the SafTest Peroxide Test Kit for the Measurement of the Peroxide Content of Oils, Tallows, Meat Meals, Potato Chips, and Grain-Based Snacks: AOAC Performance Tested MethodSM 101001
Authors: Gordon Virginia , Rainey Christopher , Studmire Wilainia
Published: October 2020

Background

Peroxide value is used as an indicator of oxidative degradation, off flavor, and rancidity in fat. Traditional methods are dependent on a fat extraction step to extract fat for subsequent titration of peroxides. The SafTest Peroxide Test offers a direct measurement of the peroxide value of vegetable oils, animal fats, meat meal and fish meal products, and potato chips, crackers, and other processed grain-based snack products using micro-analytical and membrane separation principles.

Objective

The study objective is to validate the SafTest Peroxide Test in an internal study, two contracted studies, and an independent laboratory study.

Method

Calibration, LOQ, robustness, selectivity, matrix, shelf life, and lot-to-lot stability were evaluated.

Results

The practical dynamic range of the calibration is 0.00 to 0.20 meq/kg. LOQ was determined as 0.02 meq/kg for liquids analyzed neat and 0.08 to 0.46 meq/kg for dry matrixes requiring a 1:4 to a 1:8 dilution. SafTest Peroxide Test relative standard deviations of repeatability (RSDr) averaged 1–13% compared to AOCS Cd 8–53 RSDr% of 1–15% and demonstrated average recoveries of 95.7, 91.5, and 105.2% of the AOCS Cd 8–53 results for olive oil, meat meal and fish, and animal fat and oils, respectively.

Conclusions

The SafTest Peroxide Test is an acceptable alternative to AOCS Cd 8–53 and AOCS Cd 8 b-90 for the measurement of peroxide value in oils, fats, meat meal, fish meal, and snack products.

Highlights

The SafTest Peroxide Test uses small reagent volumes, eliminates fat extraction, and provides rapid and standardized procedures for the detection of peroxide.
Housing supply elasticity and growth: evidence from Italian cities
Authors: Accetturo A , Lamorgese A. R , Mocetti S , Pellegrino D
Published: October 2020

This paper examines the impact of housing supply elasticity on urban development. Using data for a sample of roughly one hundred Italian main cities observed over 40 years, we first estimate housing supply elasticities at the city level, measured as the correlation between the changes in the housing stock and in the house prices. Second, we show that differences in the elasticity of housing supply may determine the extent to which a demand shock translates into more intense employment growth or more expensive houses. To address endogeneity of housing supply elasticity, we exploit a synthetic measure of physical constraints to residential development as instrumental variable. We find that an exogenous increase in labor demand determines a rise of employment and house prices; however, in cities with a less elastic housing supply, the impact on economic growth is significantly lessened while the effects on house prices are larger.
The Projectification of Reparation
Authors: Sperfeldt Christoph , Hughes Rachel
Published: October 2020

There has been increasing use of project-based organization in various areas of human rights practice, including within truth and justice-seeking in the wake of mass atrocities. This article traces the development and deployment of project-based approaches to judicial reparation at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), an internationalized (hybrid) criminal tribunal. Drawing on the authors’ many years of close observation in and around the ECCC, it describes and explains how a project-based approach responded to the challenge of ‘moral and collective’ reparation for victims of mass crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge (1975–1979). The article critically examines how development actors nominated, designed and ‘delivered’ so-called ‘reparation projects’. Twenty-four projects were ultimately recognized by the ECCC; key details of these are succinctly tabulated here for the benefit of readers. The article discusses the effects of the projectification of ECCC reparation, including new practices, changed relationships and changed meanings of reparation. It finds that in Cambodia—a state that has experienced decades of international development assistance resulting in the entrenchment of project forms across different fields—the mobilization of new actors and resources has expanded the possibilities for ECCC reparation and provided some benefits to those victims involved. However, a project-based approach also reshaped decision-making and accountability structures underpinning reparation work. The article argues that using ‘projectification’ as an analytical lens expands our capacity to understand how, and with what consequences, global notions of reparation and justice are enacted in different contexts through the coordination and implementation of projects.
Lessons learned from conducting disease monitoring in low-dose exposure conditions as a counter-measure after a nuclear disaster
Authors: Ohtsuru Akira , Midorikawa Sanae
Published: October 2020

The complex disaster of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear accident caused concern about their various health impacts. Many types of intervention are desired as a countermeasure, depending on the phase of the disaster cycle. The importance of developing and applying codes of conduct has recently been emphasized for post-disaster investigations. Thyroid examination as a type of cancer screening survey was launched from October 2011 after the Fukushima nuclear accident as part of the Fukushima Health Management Survey. In this article, we reviewed the results of three rounds of thyroid examination from 2011 to 2018, and summarized the points to consider in the health survey conducted after the Fukushima nuclear accident. Large-scale mass screening by ultrasound thyroid examination resulted in many cancer diagnoses, >200 cases from a large reservoir of thyroid cancer that goes mainly unnoticed without screening. To prevent the harms of such over-diagnosis, we should be aware of the disadvantage of mass-screening based on the expected natural history of thyroid cancer. A change in strategy from mass-screening to individual monitoring is urgently needed according to international recommendations that are opposed to thyroid ultrasound cancer screening even after a nuclear disaster. To guarantee autonomy and informed choice on post-disaster disease monitoring for residents in a disaster-zone, it is important to set protocol participation and on a voluntary code of conduct basis.
‘To the Arabic Community Disability Is Not Normal’: Multiple Stakeholder Perceptions of the Understandings of Disability among Iraqi and Syrian People from Refugee Backgrounds
Authors: Dew Angela , Lenette Caroline , Smith Louisa , Boydell Katherine , Bibby Helen , Lappin Julia , Coello Mariano , Raman Shanti , Velkou Katina , Wells Ruth , Momartin Shakeh , Blunden Hazel , Higgins Maree , Murad Mahmoud , Barry Jasmine , Mohammad Yasir
Published: October 2020

In 2015, the Australian government committed to take an additional 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq prioritizing those considered most vulnerable including people with disability. The aim of this preliminary study was to understand, from multiple stakeholder perspectives, the experiences of settling in Australia for people with disability from Syrian and Iraqi refugee backgrounds living in Sydney. Interviews were conducted with nine family members of 11 people with disability from Iraqi and Syrian refugee backgrounds; eight Iraqi and Syrian community organization leaders; and seven community and health refugee service practitioners. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using the thematic analysis. Three themes were identified that contribute to understandings of disability based on the perceptions of the multiple stakeholders interviewed: Iraqi and Syrian perceptions of ‘disability’; beliefs about who is ‘responsible for’ the disability; and comparisons between Iraqi/Syrian and Australian views, attitudes, and approaches to disability. Understandings of disability are shaped by fluid and dynamic factors, including culture. It is essential that services are offered to people with disability and their family members using a whole-of-person, culturally informed approach to community support.
‘Uniformity’ or ‘Dispersion’?—The evolution of Chinese poetic word categories’ distribution patterns
Authors: Pan Xiaxing , Liu Haitao
Published: October 2020

The daily language in mainland China has experienced a shift from traditional Chinese language to modern mandarin Chinese at the beginning of the twentieth century. The Chinese poetry ‘revolution’started in the 1910s is considered as a turning point in the Chinese poetry evolution process due to the novel applications of the modern Chinese language. Many temporal poetic studies consider the poems written in traditional Chinese and modern Chinese as two different genres. The two genres are saliently different in rhyme, meter, theme, etc. We aim to detect the specific properties of the evolution process of Chinese poetry in terms of the word categories’ distribution patterns. For the purpose, a corpus with 438 randomly selected traditional and modern Chinese poems is built, and some quantitative language indicators (entropy, relative entropy, repeat rate) and some exploratory statistical analysis techniques applicable in corpus linguistics and quantitative linguistics (one-way ANOVA test, cluster analysis)1 are used to abstract and analyze language data from the corpus. It is concluded that the word categories are distributed significantly differently in traditional poetry and modern poetry. The sound reasons would be that (1) traditional Chinese poetry is more likely to focus on the application of some specific content word categories, for example, nouns, but not auxiliary words and (2) modern poems tend to choose more categories of words. From the perspective of word class distribution patterns, we suppose that the birth of modern Chinese poetry in the 1910s is a sharp change to Chinese poetry production.
On the formation of GW190814
Authors: Lu Wenbin , Beniamini Paz , Bonnerot Clément
Published: October 2020

The LIGO–Virgo collaboration recently reported a puzzling event, GW190814, with component masses of 23 and 2.6 M⊙. Motivated by the relatively small rate of such a coalescence (1–$23\rm \, Gpc^{-3}\, yr^{-1}$) and the fact that the mass of the secondary is close to the total mass of known binary neutron star (bNS) systems, we propose that GW190814 was a second-generation merger from a hierarchical triple system; i.e. the remnant from the bNS coalescence was able to merge again with the 23 M⊙ black hole (BH) tertiary. We show that this occurs at a sufficiently high probability provided that the semimajor axis of the outer orbit is less than a few au at the time of bNS coalescence. It remains to be explored whether the conditions for the formation of such tight triple systems are commonly realized in the Universe, especially in low-metallicity (≲0.1 Z⊙) environments. Our model provides a number of predictions. (1) The spin of the secondary in GW190814-like systems is 0.6–0.7. (2) The component mass distribution from a large sample of LIGO sources should have a narrow peak between 2.5 and ∼3.5 M⊙, whereas the range between ∼3.5 and ∼5 M⊙ stays empty (provided that stellar evolution does not generate such BHs in the ‘mass gap’). (3) About 90 per cent (10 per cent) of GW190814-like events have an eccentricity of e ≳ 2 × 10−3 (≳0.1) near gravitational wave frequency of $10\,$ mHz. (4) A significant fraction (${\gtrsim}10\, \rm {per\, cent}$) of bNS mergers should have signatures of a massive tertiary at a distance of a few au in the gravitational waveform. (5) There are 105 undetected radio-quiet bNS systems with a massive BH tertiary in the Milky Way.
Time-inconsistent discounting and the Friedman rule: roles of non-unitary discounting
Authors: Hori Takeo , Futagami Koichi , Morimoto Shoko
Published: October 2020

We examine the optimality of the Friedman rule by considering recent development of behavioral economics. We construct a simple macroeconomic model where agents discount consumption and leisure at different rates. We also consider a standard exponential discounting model and a hyperbolic discounting model, by assuming that the same discounting applies to both consumption and leisure. Money is introduced via a cash-in-advance constraint. Although the three models are observationally equivalent, they provide different policy implications. The Friedman rule is optimal in the latter two models, while it is not optimal in the first model if agents discount consumption is at a higher rate than leisure.
Firm Characteristics and Empirical Factor Models: A Model Mining Experiment
Authors: Tian Mary
Published: October 2020

In a novel model mining experiment, we data mine hundreds of randomly constructed three-factor models and find that many outperform well-known models from the literature, including those with four and five factors. The results provide compelling evidence that the threshold of factor model success needs to be raised. Confidence intervals for model rankings, derived from a bootstrap simulation, offer new insights into the consistency of a model’s pricing ability. Rankings for some well-known models are unusually volatile, which have wider confidence intervals than that of most of the random factor models.
The clinical and cost effectiveness of splints for thumb base osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Adams Jo , Barratt Paula , Rombach Ines , Arden Nigel , Barbosa Bouças Sofia , Bradley Sarah , Doherty Michael , Dutton Susan J , Gooberman-Hill Rachael , Hislop-Lennie Kelly , Hutt-Greenyer Corinne , Jansen Victoria , Luengo-Fernadez Ramon , Williams Mark , Dziedzic Krysia
Published: October 2020

Objectives

To investigate the clinical effectiveness, efficacy and cost effectiveness of splints (orthoses) in people with symptomatic basal thumb joint OA (BTOA).

Methods

A pragmatic, multicentre parallel group randomized controlled trial at 17 National Health Service (NHS) hospital departments recruited adults with symptomatic BTOA and at least moderate hand pain and dysfunction. We randomized participants (1:1:1) using a computer-based minimization system to one of three treatment groups: a therapist supported self-management programme (SSM), a therapist supported self-management programme plus a verum thumb splint (SSM+S), or a therapist supported self-management programme plus a placebo thumb splint (SSM+PS). Participants were blinded to group allocation, received 90 min therapy over 8 weeks and were followed up for 12 weeks from baseline. Australian/Canadian (AUSCAN) hand pain at 8 weeks was the primary outcome, using intention to treat analysis. We calculated costs of treatment.

Results

We randomized 349 participants to SSM (n = 116), SSM+S (n = 116) or SSM+PS (n = 117) and 292 (84%) provided AUSCAN Osteoarthritis Hand Index hand pain scores at the primary end point (8 weeks). All groups improved, with no mean treatment difference between groups: SSM+S vs SSM −0.5 (95% CI: −1.4, 0.4), P = 0.255; SSM+PS vs SSM −0.1 (95% CI: −1.0, 0.8), P = 0.829; and SSM+S vs SSM+PS −0.4 (95% CI: −1.4, 0.5), P = 0.378. The average 12-week costs were: SSM £586; SSM+S £738; and SSM+PS £685.

Conclusion

There was no additional benefit of adding a thumb splint to a high-quality evidence-based, supported self-management programme for thumb OA delivered by therapists.

Trial registration

ISRCTN 54744256 (http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN54744256).
Mobile RDoC: Using Smartphones to Understand the Relationship Between Auditory Verbal Hallucinations and Need for Care
Authors: Ben-Zeev Dror , Buck Benjamin , Chander Ayesha , Brian Rachel , Wang Weichen , Atkins David , Brenner Carolyn J , Cohen Trevor , Campbell Andrew , Munson Jeffrey
Published: October 2020

Objective

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are common in multiple clinical populations but also occur in individuals who are otherwise considered healthy. Adopting the National Institute of Mental Health’s Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework, the aim of the current study was to integrate a variety of measures to evaluate whether AVH experience varies across clinical and nonclinical individuals.

Methods

A total of 384 people with AVH from 41 US states participated in the study; 295 participants (77%) who received inpatient, outpatient, or combination treatments for AVH and 89 participants (23%) who never received care. Participants used a multi-modal smartphone data collection system to report on their AVH experiences and co-occurring psychological states multiple times daily, over 30 days. In parallel, smartphone sensors recorded their physical activity, geolocation, and calling and texting behavior continuously.

Results

The clinical sample experienced AVH more frequently than the nonclinical group and rated their AVH as significantly louder and more powerful. They experienced more co-occurring negative affect and were more socially withdrawn, spending significantly more time at home and significantly less time near other people. Participants with a history of inpatient care also rated their AVH as infused with significantly more negative content. The groups did not differ in their physical activity or use of their smartphones for digital communication.

Conclusion

Smartphone-assisted remote data collection revealed real-time/real-place phenomenological, affective, and behavioral differences between clinical and nonclinical samples of people who experience AVH. The study provided strong support for the application of RDoC-informed approaches in psychosis research.
Phylogenetic analysis supporting the taxonomic revision of eight genera within the bacterial order Enterobacterales
Authors: Soutar Craig D. , Stavrinides John
Published: October 2020

The diverse members of the

Enterobacterales

are agriculturally and medically relevant species that have continued to undergo taxonomic revision. To assess the current taxonomy of 64 genera of the

Enterobacterales

, we carried out a phylogenetic analysis using 32 single-copy core proteins. The resulting phylogeny was robust, and shows that eight genera –

Biostraticola

,

Enterobacillus

,

Gibbsiella

,

Limnobaculum

,

Izhakiella

, ‘Nissabacter’,

Rosenbergiella

and

Samsonia

– are currently assigned to incorrect families. Taxonomic reassignment of these genera was also supported by average amino acid identity comparisons. We propose taxonomic revision of these genera to reflect their phylogenetic position within the

Enterobacterales

.
Description of Oceanispirochaeta crateris sp. nov. and reclassification of Spirochaeta perfilievii as Thiospirochaeta perfilievii gen. nov., comb. nov.
Authors: Dubinina Galina , Leshcheva Natalia , Mikheeva Natalia , Spring Stefan , Neumann-Schaal Meina , Shcherbakova Viktoria , Grabovich Margarita
Published: October 2020

A novel obligately anaerobic spirochete strain K2Twas isolated from bottom marine sediments at Crater Bay of Yankicha Island (Kuril Islands, Russia). Strain K2Thad helical shape and Gram-negatively stained. The optimal growth conditions were as follows: the optimum temperature was 28–30 °C with range 5–34 °C; optimal pH at 7.0–7.5 with range of 6.8–8.5; NaCl optimum at 3–3.5 % (w/v) and range of 1–7 % (w/v). Strain K2Twas catalase- and oxidase-negative. Glucose fermentation products were acetate, lactate, ethanol, CO2, H2. The major fatty acids were C14 : 0,iso-C13 : 0,iso-C15:0,C14 : 0DMA,iso-C15 : 0DMA. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 43.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA genes showed that strain K2Tbelonged to the genusOceanispirochaetaof the familySpirochaetaceae. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of strain K2TandO. litoralisDSM 2029TandO. sediminicolaDSM 104770Twas 96 and 94 %, respectively. Based on the results of our study, we propose the nameOceanispirochaeta craterissp. nov.; type strain K2T(=DSM 16308T=VKM B-3266T). Also, the taxonomic status ofSpirochaeta perfileviiwas revised: 16S rRNA genes sequence showed less than 89 % similarity to nearest phylogenetic neighbours. Therefore, we proposed to separate this species into a novel genusThiospirochaeta - T. perfilieviigen. nov., comb. nov.