bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laboratory Performance Evaluation of Co-Polymer Based Dust Suppressant Mixed with Poorly Sand
Authors: Wu Ziyan , Ho Chun-Hsing , Huang Junxin
Published: September 2019

Fugitive dust, generated along unpaved roads or uncovered construction sites, defined as a type of atmospheric matter (PM), is considered as a major source of air pollution in metropolitan areas. Fugitive dust can potentially cause respiratory illness and lung damage for humans, and even lead to premature death in sensitive individuals. Aiming to reduce the fugitive dust emission on unpaved roads, scientists did various lab experiences to analyse the performance of different types of dust suppressants mixed with different soils. In our previous papers, we evaluated the co-polymer-based dust suppressant (CPS) mixed with loamy sand (soils are from Sedona, Arizona) and silty clay (SP-SC) (soils are from Flagstaff, Arizona). The objective of this paper is to analyse the efficiency of fugitive dust reduction and present the quantitative laboratory evaluation of CPS mixed with poorly sand (SP). The soils were sampled from Page, Arizona. Soil classification is based on United Soil Classification System (USCS). Four concentrations of CPS (0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% by weight) were diluted and mixed with soil samples to prepared soil specimens. A series of laboratory experiences were performed on the soil specimens including moisture retention test, surface strength test, dynamic rolling test, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. The laboratory results show that the higher the concentration of CPS is, the better CPS performs, and CPS with 5% concentration by weight controls the dust emissions better as compared with the other three concentrations, provided the results from the moisture retention rate, surface strength, dynamic rolling resistance, and interlock/cohesion effect in SEM images are promising.
Planning for the North-European Waterfront Cities
Authors: Lorens Piotr
Published: September 2019

Redevelopment of urban waterfronts is one of the leading themes in contemporary planning practice. This issue is a subject of interest to many scholars and practitioners, associated with development of waterfront cities. In literature on this topic one can find a lot of information regarding leading examples of this process, discussion of issues and problems associated with this phenomenon as well as analysis of the results achieved. In addition, many specialists in this field managed to develop a sort of “guide of good practice” for cities and planners interested in undertaking an effort associated with reshaping the waterfront site. But one can easily spot that most of the cases discussed are based in climate zones allowing extensive public use of the waterfront sites for the most part of the year. Therefore, the phenomenon of waterfront redevelopment is frequently associated with extensive development of large scale urban structures, in the climate realities allowing extensive public usage of these. On the basis of the “success stories” of many cities undertaking the waterfront urban redevelopment process also municipalities located in “less privileged” from the climate point of view areas as well as small-and medium-sized cities tend to rethink their water related urban structures. This relates both to cities located in the hot and cold climate zones – which to large extent make the traditional type of waterfront redevelopment patterns unviable, both due to climate conditions and – being the result of those – different economic and cultural realities. In result, the design patterns based on the traditional “success stories” seem to be unsuitable for these locations and the designers and developers of waterfront sites located in such cities have to look for the alternative solutions. Same applies to small- and medium-sized cities, which not necessarily bear potential for implementation of the mixed-use, large-scale urban projects. In these cases also the problem of relations between “global” trends associated with development of mass tourism as well as with implementing the typical mixed-use patterns and specifics of local economy and cultural environment has to be taken into account. Within the proposed paper the specifics of small-and medium-sized waterfront cities, located outside the “climate comfort zone” will be elaborated. Within this group the special attention will be paid to the cities located in the northern Europe. Usually these are small and medium –sized municipalities, rarely aspiring to become the leading centers of urban development in their respective countries. At the same time their economy was traditionally based on fishing, small-scale maritime industries and local trade. In addition, in many cases these cities are not extremely attractive for mass tourism and are located aside from major transportation routes. Therefore, it seems necessary to rethink the “urban waterfront development pattern” within these sites, as the strategies based on copying the solutions known from larger cities cannot be effectively used.
Reshaping the Gdansk harbor – the continuous process
Authors: Lorens Piotr
Published: September 2019

Gdańsk is the harbor city with a history of more than 1000 years. For many centuries the harbor structures were evolving within the central part of the historic city center, and – as a result – specific urban structures associated with these functions were created. But the evolution of the maritime technology, as well as new needs regarding servicing the ships and cargo-handling activities, affected in the creation of the more modern facilities, within the article, a reflection regarding these issues is presented, which takes into account both the global trends in harbor developments and the local specifics of the city. As a result, the article can serve as the reference paper for the research associated with the evolution of the ports and port cities.
Flam Valley TMF Pond, 40 Years of Activity and Still Going
Authors: Popescu Catalin , Sarghiuta Radu , Iiev Sorin
Published: September 2019

Flam Valley is a bauxite residue Tailings Management Facility (TMF) valley pond, operating since 1971, located in Romania, just a few meters away from the Danube Delta protected area. Since then, it has been serving Alum Tulcea alumina producing plant through the different stages of its development. Conceived as a frontal tailings dam, Flam Valley is located in a nonpermanent torrential stream in a very sensitive environmental protected area. Up to 2006 tailings slurry with 15-20% solids were pumped by pipeline in the TMF, in accordance with the old technology. After the EU directives enforcement in 2005 the plant had to stop all activity until the whole process was upgraded, consequently the TMF was upgraded with the structural frontal dam being reinforced, water diversions constructed, some areas of the residual storage area were ecologically restored and the deposition became a dry stacking process by tailing placement, thus transforming it into a new TMF and avoiding the consequences that would have derived from the relocation of the TMF. The presented aspects are aimed at generally portraying the evolution, incidents, the tailing dam behavior and prospects of capacity enlargement for Flam Valley TMF.
Effectiveness of Different RAP Rejuvenators Obtained from Tests on Marshall Samples
Authors: Sorociak Wojciech , Grzesik Bartlomiej
Published: September 2019

Sustainable development is a basic principle of modern world society. One of important aspects of sustainable development is care of natural resources, To achieve this goal it is obligatory to use within building materials those from recycling. In terms of road engineering it refers to all reclaimed materials from pavement construction, however, one of the most valuable of them is reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). Its use in production of new hot mix asphalt (HMA) is promoted due to environmental issues but it also causes concerns among road administrators. Aged bitumen, being an ingredient of RAP, poses a threat to new HMA, decreasing its cracking resistance regardless of its source. Aged bitumen is more brittle than the` virgin one, thus high RAP content may lead to the same sort of problems within HMA. To enable high RAP content in HMA there are additives (rejuvenators) introduced onto aged bitumen (RAP) to restore its characteristics. Choice between applied rejuvenators is crucial task along with its content in accordance to amount of aged bitumen. The aim of the paper is to pinpoint differences between effects obtained after use of different rejuvenators on mix consisting of 100% RAP. The effect was shown on void content determination and Marshall stability test. Results showed significant differences between 4 rejuvenators of different types, making some of them more effective in comparison to others. Tests confirmed possibility of further investigation on 100% RAP mixes made of confirmed-quality RAP.
Urban Strategy for Improving the Air Quality in Bucharest (Romania)
Authors: Profeanu Virgil
Published: September 2019

The paper presents an effective urban solution of update for the General Urban Plan (GUP) of Bucharest in order to reduce air pollution. The proposal presented is based on the good urban design planning practice offered by other cities that manage to preserve the air pollution level below an established limit. Firstly, the paper includes a literature review I carried out in order to study the latest scientific research papers related to the subject and the examples of good practice. Furthermore, the paper highlights the present situation in Bucharest generated by the high levels of air pollution and the need to reduce the toxic emissions. Romania has committed through Directive 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council to reduce the national emissions of certain pollutants. In addition, the proposal of update for GUP was developed according to the present national targets and to the specificity of the city, existing green space, tree density, small size surfaces. If the urban solution presented is applied through the General Urban Plan, the air quality in Bucharest will be considerably improved and the positive effects will not wait to appear in different perspectives, such as: inhabitants’ health condition, urban aesthetic, efficient use of the allocated budget for the improving air quality in the European capital. In order to successfully implement the urban solution, the present research has to be completed by an arboretum study in Bucharest. The topic of the paper is characterized by multidisciplinarity as it takes into consideration research information from Urban Design and Ecology.
Detection and Change of Tension Forces Operating on Elevator Hoist Ropes
Authors: Hrabovsky Leopold , Koscak Peter
Published: September 2019

The Decree on Technical Requirements for Buildings stipulates that all the new residential buildings with entrances to flats at the fifth and higher floors, or attics at the same level, must have an elevator installed. The applicable standards in the Czech Republic so that, for the electric elevators with friction discs that use two or more hoist ropes, the weight of the applied load was evenly distributed over all the cross-sections of the hoist ropes for the given layout of the elevator. Rope tension equalizers used in elevators are usually designed to allow sensing of the acting tensile forces in an uninterrupted cross-section of the hoist cable. They are usually installed on hoist ropes only in the newly-installed elevators and during regular inspections. The paper describes the basic principles of devices currently in use, the so-called rope tensioners, which allow detecting and adjusting primarily different tensile forces in the hoist ropes to the same value. The paper refers to two, already published design variants of portable rope straighteners, which use foil strain gauges or strain gauge sensors to detect the acting tensile forces in the hoist ropes. The constructional solution and the principle of operation of the “hydraulic rope tensioner”, which were created at the VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, are described in more detail.
Influence of cyclone construction parameters on the efficiency of dust removal
Authors: Nowak Krzysztof , Bukowska Maria
Published: September 2019

Gas dedusting involves the removal of aerosol particles from them. The gas dedusting process is carried out in devices called dust collectors. The use of a specific dust removal process depends on the characteristics of the pollutant emission source and the required degree of gas dedusting. The dust removal process is a complex system of forces acting in the dust collector to remove dust particles from the gas and to deposit them on the collector surface. The centrifugal dust collectors use the mechanism of centrifugal forces by introducing an aerosol stream into rotational motion. These types of dust collectors are often used in industry due to the simple construction, the lack of moving parts, the ability to work in conditions of high temperature and high pressure, low manufacturing costs and easy operation. A cyclone with a tangential inlet is one of the types of centrifugal separators in which the gas flows tangentially to the cylindrical part, then spirals downwards where it changes direction to the opposite and leaves the cyclone with the central exhaust pipe. Cyclones are commonly used in Poland in small heating plants equipped with WR grate boilers where coal is burned. The most important factors affecting the efficiency of dust removal are the physicochemical properties of aerosol particles and their sizes. For example, a reduction in the particle size leads to a reduction in the efficiency of the forces emitting particles from the gas, and thus the efficiency of dust removal decreases. The geometric shape of the cyclone is relatively simple, but its structural dimensions have an effect on the gas movement and, as a result, the efficiency of dust removal. Increasing the efficiency of the cyclone is the subject of many studies. This publication presents information on cyclones with tangential inlet and the effect of their design parameters on the efficiency of dust removal. A total of 5 types of cyclones with tangential inlet were analyzed, including two high efficiency cyclones, two general use cyclones and one high performance cyclone. The analysis showed that the size of cyclone construction parameters affects the size of the particle’s limit diameter, the pressure drop and, as a result, the cyclone efficiency.
Color as a Psychological Agent to Perceived Indoor Environmental Quality
Authors: Kraus Michal
Published: September 2019

Achieving suitable and comfortable indoor environmental quality comfort via innovative, sustainable, energy efficient approaches is a contemporary research aim world-wide. The indoor space and its perception are influenced by three basic components: the surrounding factors (temperature, noise, odor, noise and lighting), the structural factors (architecture, color, materials, pattern, and structure) and the social factors (occupants). The relationship between IEQ and wellbeing is complicated. A range of indoor factors such as thermal, visual, acoustic, and chemical can impact the wellbeing, performance and health of the occupants. Colors are an interesting and well-studied psychological phenomenon. Colors, combinations, saturation and shades are the focus of advertising creators, interior designers and exteriors, architects, psychologists and many others. Specific colors and patterns have a direct influence on health, emotions, behavior, and performance of building users. Color is one of the basic properties of objects and environments. Colors have a great impact on our perception and evaluation. For example, it is proven that long-term stay in a deeply painted room is very nervous on the nervous system or that red and yellow tend to be seen as warning signals. A color’s hue is determined by its wavelength [nm]. Long wavelengths are associated with warm colors, with red (∼ 625–800 nm) being most extreme followed by orange (∼ 590–625 nm). Short wavelengths are associated with cold colors, with violet (∼ 430–500 nm] being most extreme followed by blue (∼ 430–500 nm). In this study, the impact of indoor color´s use and indoor environmental quality is examined. The focus of this contribution is to establish a link between the color as IEQ parameter and health and well-being of occupants.
Carbon Dioxide Concentration in the Bedroom for Various Natural Ventilation Modes
Authors: Novakova Petra , Kraus Michal
Published: September 2019

The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2), respectively healthy and suitable hygienic indoor environment, is one of the current issues. Residence rooms, excluding rooms in family-run facilities and accommodation units, should be ventilated to comply with a maximum permissible carbon dioxide concentration of 1500 ppm during the stay of people. Many researches have shown that the indoor environmental quality has a significant effect on the incidence of health problems (Sick Building Syndrome, SBS). Nowadays, there are a number of grant programs to support energy-saving buildings, which resulted in massive thermal insulation of all types of buildings. Buildings are nearly airtight closed to reduce the energy losses, and the owners, under the vision of energy and financial savings, almost do not open the windows. It is quite certain that these buildings are inadequate in terms of air quality. The exception is where the air-conditioning units are installed. The experiment measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in the bedroom is executed in March within a week. Measuring in the winter months is crucial for the evaluation of results because it is difficult to set up an ideal regime for natural ventilation during the winter. The supply of fresh air is achieved by natural ventilation by tilting window but the result is a low temperature (cold) in the interior. The experiment is carried out in a three-room apartment in České Budějovice with newly installed plastic till & turn windows with insulating double glazing. Window wings also allow opening of the tilting position (tilt) and micro-ventilation. The observed bedroom has a floor area of 14.5 m2. Two adults live in the apartment. The concentrations of carbon dioxide overnight are assessed under different modes of natural ventilation by tilt & turn window combined with open interior doors to other rooms. The results show a significant effect of ventilation on the air quality. Data proves that only natural ventilation through the new tight windows in renovated apartment buildings is inadequate.
Risk assessment of radon in some bottled water on the Ghanaian market
Authors: Opoku-Ntim Irene , Gyampo Owiredu , Andam Aba Bentil
Published: September 2019

The demand for bottled drinking water on the Ghanaian market has increased despite being expensive. This can be attributed to the public perception that is of higher quality relative to other water sources. Radon (222Rn) is a noble gas formed from radium (226Ra) which is the decay product of Uranium (238U). Radon concentration and annual effective doses were measured in fifteen popular bottled water samples on the Ghanaian market at the Greater Accra, Region. Measurements were made using RAD -H20. The range and mean radon concentration of222Rn in all sampled water were 0.03–0.09 Bql−1and 0.06 ± 0.01 Bql−1respectively. The annual effective dose due to ingestion in the various age groups had a range and mean of 6.79E-01-1.90E-01μSvy−1and 4.66E-01 ± 3.77E-02μSvy−1for adults, 3.80E-01-1.36 E-01μSvy−1and 9.33E-01 ± 7.55E-02μSvy−1for children and 1.33–4.75μSvy−1and 3.26μSvy−1 ± 2.64E-01 for infants. The measured values of radon concentration as well as the annual effective dose were found within the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA), European Union (EU) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits. It can be concluded that the radiation dose from radon in the bottled water analysed is low and pose no risk to the public.
Signature of spin-dependent Seebeck effect in dynamical spin injection of metallic bilayer structures
Authors: Yamanoi Kazuto , Yafuso Minoru , Miyazaki Keishi , Kimura Takashi
Published: September 2019

The dynamical spin injection in a ferromagnetic/paramagnetic bilayer with various paramagnetic layers has been examined by using the inverse spin Hall effect. We adapt a CoFeB film as a ferromagnetic layer, which has a large spin dependent Seebeck coefficient. The contribution of the spin pumping was evaluated from the line-width change of the ferromagnetic resonant spectra while that of the thermal spin injection was evaluated from the heat conductivity for the paramagnetic layer. We find that the spin Hall voltage does not show the systematic change with respect to the line-width change. However, the normalized spin Hall voltage is found to increase with the heat conductivity for the paramagnetic layer. These results suggest that the thermal spin injection is a major contribution for the dynamical spin injection in CoFeB/paramagnetic bilayer systems.
The classification of \frac{3}2-transitive permutation groups and \frac{1}2-transitive linear groups
Authors: Liebeck Martin , Praeger Cheryl , Saxl Jan
Published: September 2019

A linear group

G
≤
G
L
(
V
)

G\le GL(V)

, where

V
V

is a finite vector space, is called

1
2

\frac {1}{2}

-transitive if all the

G
G

-orbits on the set of nonzero vectors have the same size. We complete the classification of all the

1
2

\frac {1}{2}

-transitive linear groups. As a consequence we complete the determination of the finite

3
2

\frac {3}{2}

-transitive permutation groups – the transitive groups for which a point-stabilizer has all its nontrivial orbits of the same size. We also determine the

(
k
+

1
2

)

(k+\frac {1}{2})

-transitive groups for integers

k
≥
2

k\ge 2

.
C*-algebras from actions of congruence monoids on rings of algebraic integers
Authors: Bruce Chris
Published: September 2019

Let

K
K

be a number field with ring of integers

R
R

. Given a modulus

m

\mathfrak {m}

for

K
K

and a group

Γ
\Gamma

of residues modulo

m

\mathfrak {m}

, we consider the semidirect product

R
⋊

R

m

,
Γ

R\rtimes R_{\mathfrak {m},\Gamma }

obtained by restricting the multiplicative part of the full

a
x
+
b

ax+b

-semigroup over

R
R

to those algebraic integers whose residue modulo

m

\mathfrak {m}

lies in

Γ
\Gamma

, and we study the left regular C*-algebra of this semigroup. We give two presentations of this C*-algebra and realize it as a full corner in a crossed product C*-algebra. We also establish a faithfulness criterion for representations in terms of projections associated with ideal classes in a quotient of the ray class group modulo

m

\mathfrak {m}

, and we explicitly describe the primitive ideals using relations only involving the range projections of the generating isometries; this leads to an explicit description of the boundary quotient. Our results generalize and strengthen those of Cuntz, Deninger, and Laca and of Echterhoff and Laca for the C*-algebra of the full

a
x
+
b

ax+b

-semigroup. We conclude by showing that our construction is functorial in the appropriate sense; in particular, we prove that the left regular C*-algebra of

R
⋊

R

m

,
Γ

R\rtimes R_{\mathfrak {m},\Gamma }

embeds canonically in the left regular C*-algebra of the full

a
x
+
b

ax+b

-semigroup. Our methods rely heavily on Li’s theory of semigroup C*-algebras.
The Impact of an Undergraduate Biology Class on Donor Recruitment at a Hospital-Based Blood Donor Center
Authors: Peedin Alexis R , Park Yara A , Mazepa Marshall A , Siniard R Chad , Neish Thomas , Raval Jay S
Published: September 2019

Objectives

A biology class, BIOL 294H, taught undergraduates about platelet donation while partnering with the University of North Carolina’s (UNC’s) hospital-based Blood Donation Center to recruit apheresis platelet donors. We identified our platelet donors’ demographics and learned how BIOL 294H affected recruitment.

Methods

Every platelet donor presenting to the UNC Blood Donation Center from February 7, 2017, to March 10, 2017, was asked to complete an electronic 10-question survey.

Results

A total of 159 unique donors completed the survey; 64% were female and 75% were between ages 18 and 25 years. Overall, 70% were UNC undergraduate students. Over half (56%) reported first learning about platelet donation through word of mouth, and 22% cited specific efforts associated with BIOL 294H.

Conclusions

Recruitment of undergraduate platelet donors primarily included BIOL 294H peer interactions and deliverables from the class, such as social media updates and events on campus. The sustained recruiting efforts of our students over many years contributed to recruitment of a majority of our platelet donors.
On No-Rights and No Rights
Authors: Kramer Matthew H
Published: September 2019

As is well known to everyone familiar with the analytical table of legal relationships propounded by the American jurist Wesley Hohfeld, one of the eight positions in the table is that of the no-right. In most discussions of Hohfeld’s overall framework, no-rights have received rather little attention. Doubtless, one reason for the relative dearth of scrutiny is that Hohfeld devised a hyphenated neologism to designate no-rights. Each of the other positions in the Hohfeldian table is designated by a term with a solid grounding in everyday discourse and juristic discourse, whereas the hyphenated term “no-right”—in contrast with the unhyphenated phrase “no right”—does not have any comparable grounding either in ordinary discourse or in juristic discourse. That neologism is almost never employed by anyone outside the confines of discussions of Hohfeld’s categories, and it is often not employed even within those confines. Notwithstanding the enormous amount of philosophical and juristic attention bestowed on Hohfeld’s analytical framework since its elaboration in the second decade of the twentieth century, the term “no-right” has found little favor in philosophical or juristic circles. Moreover, on the rather rare occasions when the term is used rather than merely mentioned, it is almost always misused. The exploration of the correct use of that term in the first half of this paper may seem rather fussy, but the importance of that exploration for a satisfactory understanding of legal and moral relationships will become apparent in the second half of the paper. While endeavoring to vindicate the term “no-right” as a fully apposite element in the vocabulary of legal philosophy, this paper will also be replying to a recent article by Heidi Hurd and Michael Moore in this journal.
Hemagglutinin Stalk Antibody Responses Following Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Immunization of Pregnant Women and Association With Protection From Influenza Virus Illness
Authors: Dhar Nisha , Kwatra Gaurav , Nunes Marta C , Cutland Clare , Izu Alane , Nachbagauer Raffael , Krammer Florian , Madhi Shabir A
Published: September 2019

Background

The conserved, immuno-subdominant influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) stalk region is a potential universal group-specific influenza virus vaccine epitope. We analyzed antibody responses to H1 hemagglutinin stalk domain (H1/stalk) following trivalent influenza inactivated vaccine (IIV3) immunization in pregnant women, and association with protection against influenza virus illness.

Methods

One hundred forty-five human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–uninfected pregnant women (68 IIV3 and 77 placebo recipients) and 140 pregnant women with HIV infection (72 IIV3 and 68 placebo recipients) were independently randomized in placebo-controlled efficacy trials of IIV3. Plasma samples were tested for H1/stalk immunoglobulin G (IgG) and hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) antibodies prevaccination and 1 month postvaccination. Women had weekly surveillance for influenza illness, confirmed by polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Increases in H1/stalk IgG (and HAI) antibody levels were elicited post-IIV3, with responses being higher in HIV-uninfected women than in women living with HIV. Among HIV-uninfected vaccinees, there was no correlation (postvaccination) between H1/stalk and HAI antibody responses, whereas a strong correlation was observed in vaccinees with HIV. The H1/stalk IgG concentration was lower among women developing A/H1N1 illness (85.3 arbitrary units [AU]/mL) than those without A/H1N1 illness (219.6 AU/mL; P = .001). H1/stalk IgG concentration ≥215 AU/mL was associated with 90% lower odds (odds ratio, 0.09; P = .005) of A/H1N1 illness. Also, H1/stalk IgG was significantly lower among women with influenza B illness (93.9 AU/mL) than among their counterparts (215.5 AU/mL) (P = .04); however, no association was observed after adjusting for HAI titers.

Conclusions

H1/stalk IgG concentration was associated with lower odds for A/H1N1 influenza virus illness, indicating its potential as an epitope for a universal vaccine against group 1 influenza virus.
Development and internal validation of a prediction model for hospital-acquired acute kidney injury
Authors: Martin-Cleary Catalina , Molinero-Casares Luis Miguel , Ortiz Alberto , Arce-Obieta Jose Miguel
Published: September 2019

Background

Predictive models and clinical risk scores for hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (AKI) are mainly focused on critical and surgical patients. We have used the electronic clinical records from a tertiary care general hospital to develop a risk score for new-onset AKI in general inpatients that can be estimated automatically from clinical records.

Methods

A total of 47 466 patients met inclusion criteria within a 2-year period. Of these, 2385 (5.0%) developed hospital-acquired AKI. Step-wise regression modelling and Bayesian model averaging were used to develop the Madrid Acute Kidney Injury Prediction Score (MAKIPS), which contains 23 variables, all obtainable automatically from electronic clinical records at admission. Bootstrap resampling was employed for internal validation. To optimize calibration, a penalized logistic regression model was estimated by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) method of coefficient shrinkage after estimation.

Results

The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve of the MAKIPS score to predict hospital-acquired AKI at admission was 0.811. Among individual variables, the highest odds ratios, all >2.5, for hospital-acquired AKI were conferred by abdominal, cardiovascular or urological surgery followed by congestive heart failure. An online tool (http://www.bioestadistica.net/MAKIPS.aspx) will facilitate validation in other hospital environments.

Conclusions

MAKIPS is a new risk score to predict the risk of hospital-acquired AKI, based on variables present at admission in the electronic clinical records. This may help to identify patients who require specific monitoring because of a high risk of AKI.
The impact of life course exposures to neighbourhood deprivation on health and well-being: a review of the long-term neighbourhood effects literature
Authors: Jivraj Stephen , Murray Emily T , Norman Paul , Nicholas Owen
Published: September 2019

Background

In this review article, we detail a small but growing literature in the field of health geography that uses longitudinal data to determine a life course component to the neighbourhood effects thesis. For too long, there has been reliance on cross-sectional data to test the hypothesis that where you live has an effect on your health and well-being over and above your individual circumstances.

Methods

We identified 53 articles that demonstrate how neighbourhood deprivation measured at least 15 years prior affects health and well-being later in life using the databases Scopus and Web of Science.

Results

We find a bias towards US studies, the most common being the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Definition of neighbourhood and operationalization of neighbourhood deprivation across most of the included articles relied on data availability rather than a priori hypothesis.

Conclusions

To further progress neighbourhood effects research, we suggest that more data linkage to longitudinal datasets is required beyond the narrow list identified in this review. The limited literature published to date suggests an accumulation of exposure to neighbourhood deprivation over the life course is damaging to later life health, which indicates improving neighbourhoods as early in life as possible would have the greatest public health improvement.
Public health digitalization in Europe
Authors: Odone Anna , Buttigieg Stefan , Ricciardi Walter , Azzopardi-Muscat Natasha , Staines Anthony
Published: September 2019

Background

As digitalization is progressively permeating all aspects of society, how can be it fruitfully employed to sustain the public health goals of quality, accessibility, efficiency and equity in health care and prevention? In this paper, we reflect on the potential of applying digital tools to public health and discuss some key challenges.

Methods

We first define ‘digitalization’ in its broader sense, as well as applied to public health. We then build a conceptual framework where key public health domains are associated to available digital technologies in a matrix that help to identify digital features that bolster public health action. We also provide illustrative data and evidence on the application of digital solutions on selected public health areas. In the second part, we identify the strategic pillars for a successful European strategy for public health digitalization and we outline how the approach being pursued by the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) applies to digital health.

Results

From a public health perspective, digitalization is being touted as providing several potential benefits and advantages, including support for the transition from cure to prevention, helping to put people and patients at the center of care delivery, supporting patient empowerment and making healthcare system more efficient, safer and cheaper. These benefits are enabled through the following features of digital technologies: (i) Personalization and precision; (ii) Automation; (iii) Prediction; (iv) Data analytics and (v) Interaction.

Conclusion

A successful European strategy for public health digitalization should integrate the following pillars: political commitment, normative frameworks, technical infrastructure, targeted economic investments, education, research, monitoring and evaluation. EUPHA acknowledges digitalization is an asset for public health and is working both to promote the culture of “public health digitalization”, as well as to enable its planning, implementation and evaluation at the research, practice and policy level.
Prevalence of gambling behaviours and their associations with socioemotional harm among 11–16 year olds in Wales: findings from the School Health Research Network survey
Authors: Melendez-Torres G J , Anthony Rebecca E , Hewitt Gillian , Murphy Simon , Moore Graham F
Published: September 2019

Background

Gambling opportunities are increasingly available and acceptable to many adolescents. Adolescent problem gambling has been associated with poor outcomes, such as lower reported physical and mental health. While much research has focussed on ‘problem’ gambling, analysing the distribution and determinants of experimentation with gambling is important in order to understand its normalization and population level consequences. This study describes the distribution of inequalities and socioemotional harms associated with adolescent gambling.

Methods

Data were drawn from a subsample of students (N = 37 363) who completed gambling questions as part of the 2017 School Health Research Network Student Health and Wellbeing Survey, representing 193 secondary schools in Wales. Using imputations, we estimated a series of single-predictor and multi-predictor regressions for count of gambling behaviours, any gambling in the past 12 months and socioemotional harms of gambling.

Results

Approximately two-fifths (41.0%) of respondents reported gambling in the past 12 months, of whom 16.2% reported feeling bad as a result of their own gambling. We found significant sex differences in gambling, with boys gambling more frequently than girls. Adolescents from more affluent families reported a higher count of gambling behaviours and socioemotional harms, although paradoxically, increasing affluence was also associated with lower prevalence of gambling in the last year. Non-White British ethnicities and students who felt less connected to school were more likely to engage in gambling and experience socioemotional harms.

Conclusions

Our findings provide important new insights regarding risk factors in adolescence associated with gambling behaviours and socioemotional harms.
A High-Resolution View of Adaptive Event Dynamics in a Plasmid
Authors: Mei Han , Arbeithuber Barbara , Cremona Marzia A , DeGiorgio Michael , Nekrutenko Anton
Published: September 2019

Coadaptation between bacterial hosts and plasmids frequently results in adaptive changes restricted exclusively to host genome leaving plasmids unchanged. To better understand this remarkable stability, we transformed naïve Escherichia coli cells with a plasmid carrying an antibiotic-resistance gene and forced them to adapt in a turbidostat environment. We then drew population samples at regular intervals and subjected them to duplex sequencing—a technique specifically designed for identification of low-frequency mutations. Variants at ten sites implicated in plasmid copy number control emerged almost immediately, tracked consistently across the experiment’s time points, and faded below detectable frequencies toward the end. This variation crash coincided with the emergence of mutations on the host chromosome. Mathematical modeling of trajectories for adaptive changes affecting plasmid copy number showed that such mutations cannot readily fix or even reach appreciable frequencies. We conclude that there is a strong selection against alterations of copy number even if it can provide a degree of growth advantage. This incentive is likely rooted in the complex interplay between mutated and wild-type plasmids constrained within a single cell and underscores the importance of understanding of intracellular plasmid variability.
Benefit-Finding Intervention Delivered Individually to Alzheimer Family Caregivers: Longer-Term Outcomes of a Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial
Authors: Cheng Sheung-Tak , Mak Emily P M , Kwok Timothy , Fung Helene , Lam Linda C W
Published: September 2019

Objectives

To examine the longer-term effects of benefit-finding on caregivers’ depressive symptoms (primary outcome), and global burden, role overload, psychological well-being, and positive aspects of caregiving (secondary outcomes).

Method

Ninety-six Hong Kong Chinese caregivers of relatives with Alzheimer’s disease were randomly assigned to receive the benefit-finding intervention (BFT) or one of the two control conditions, namely, simplified psychoeducation (lectures only; SIM-PE) or standard psychoeducation (STD-PE). Caregivers received four biweekly one-to-one interventions of 3 hours each at their own homes. We focused on outcomes measured at 4- and 10-month follow-ups. The trajectories of intervention effects were modeled by BFT × time and BFT × time2 interaction terms.

Results

Mixed-effects regression showed significant BFT × time2 interaction effects on depressive symptoms against both control conditions, suggesting diminishing BFT effects over time. Z tests showed that, compared with controls, BFT participants reported substantial reductions in depressive symptoms at 4-month follow-up (d = −0.85 and −0.75 vs. SIM-PE and STD-PE, respectively). For depressive symptoms measured at 10-month follow-up, BFT was indistinguishable from STD-PE, whereas a moderate effect was observed in comparison with SIM-PE (d = −0.52). Moreover, positive aspects of caregiving, but not other secondary outcomes, continued to show intervention effect up to 10-month follow-up.

Discussion

Benefit-finding is an efficacious intervention for depressive symptoms in Alzheimer caregivers, with strong effects in the medium-term post-intervention and possible moderate effects in the longer-term post-intervention.
The Roles of Marital Dissolution and Subsequent Repartnering on Loneliness in Later Life
Authors: Wright Matthew R , Hammersmith Anna M , Brown Susan L , Lin I-Fen
Published: September 2019

Objectives

Loneliness in later life is associated with poorer health and higher risk of mortality. Our study assesses whether gray divorced adults report higher levels of loneliness than the widowed and whether social support or repartnership offset loneliness.

Method

Using data from the 2010 and 2012 Health and Retirement Study, we estimated ordinary least squares regression models for women (n = 2,362) and men (n = 1,127) to examine differences in loneliness by dissolution pathway (i.e., divorce versus widowhood), accounting for social support and repartnership.

Results

Divorced men were lonelier than their widowed counterparts. Although social support reduced loneliness among men, the difference between the divorced and widowed persisted. Repartnership assuaged men’s loneliness and reduced the variation between divorced and widowed men. Among women, the results did not reveal differences in loneliness for the divorced and widowed although social support and repartnership linked to less loneliness.

Discussion

Later-life marital dissolutions increasingly occur through divorce rather than spousal death. Some older adults go on to form new partnerships. Our findings demonstrate the importance of gerontological research widening the lens beyond widowhood to consider the ramifications of later-life divorce and repartnership for well-being.
The Cost-effectiveness of Initial Immunomodulators or Infliximab Using Modern Optimization Strategies for Crohn’s Disease in the Biosimilar Era
Authors: Vasudevan Abhinav , Ip Francis , Liew Danny , Van Langenberg Daniel R
Published: September 2019

Background

Treatment cost, efficacy, and safety are integral considerations when optimizing management of Crohn’s disease (CD). This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of initial immunomodulator and anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents for the treatment of CD from a US third-party perspective, incorporating current treatment algorithms, optimization strategies, and reduced costs availed by biosimilars.

Method

A 1-year Markov model was developed to simulate the cost and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) of initial azathioprine, infliximab, and combination therapy for moderate to severe CD. Treatment was changed based on tolerability and clinical disease activity at 3-monthly intervals. Efficacy data were based on published literature.

Results

Initial azathioprine had the lowest cost and utility ($35,337 and 0.63 QALYs), whereas combination therapy was the costliest yet conferred the highest health benefits ($57,638 and 0.67 QALYs). The incremental cost-effectiveness of infliximab and combination therapy compared with azathioprine were both in excess of $500,000 per QALY gained. Initial azathioprine remained the most cost-effective treatment on sensitivity analysis compared with infliximab and combination therapy, with 90% reductions in anti-TNF therapy costs and a 5-year time horizon, although combination therapy had an acceptable cost-effectiveness when costs were reduced in the extended model. Initial infliximab, ustekinumab, and vedolizumab were dominated by combination therapy.

Conclusions

In the biosimilar era, initial azathioprine with escalation to infliximab appeared more cost-effective in the short term compared with infliximab or combination therapy, although initial combination therapy yields acceptable ICERs in the long term with continued reductions in anti-TNF therapy costs and will likely be the preferred treatment strategy in the future.
Between hard and soft thresholding: optimal iterative thresholding algorithms
Authors: Liu Haoyang , Foygel Barber Rina
Published: September 2019

Iterative thresholding algorithms seek to optimize a differentiable objective function over a sparsity or rank constraint by alternating between gradient steps that reduce the objective and thresholding steps that enforce the constraint. This work examines the choice of the thresholding operator and asks whether it is possible to achieve stronger guarantees than what is possible with hard thresholding. We develop the notion of relative concavity of a thresholding operator, a quantity that characterizes the worst-case convergence performance of any thresholding operator on the target optimization problem. Surprisingly, we find that commonly used thresholding operators, such as hard thresholding and soft thresholding, are suboptimal in terms of worst-case convergence guarantees. Instead, a general class of thresholding operators, lying between hard thresholding and soft thresholding, is shown to be optimal with the strongest possible convergence guarantee among all thresholding operators. Examples of this general class includes $\ell _q$ thresholding with appropriate choices of $q$ and a newly defined reciprocal thresholding operator. We also investigate the implications of the improved optimization guarantee in the statistical setting of sparse linear regression and show that this new class of thresholding operators attain the optimal rate for computationally efficient estimators, matching the Lasso.
Cohort selection for clinical trials: n2c2 2018 shared task track 1
Authors: Stubbs Amber , Filannino Michele , Soysal Ergin , Henry Samuel , Uzuner Özlem
Published: September 2019

Objective

Track 1 of the 2018 National NLP Clinical Challenges shared tasks focused on identifying which patients in a corpus of longitudinal medical records meet and do not meet identified selection criteria.

Materials and Methods

To address this challenge, we annotated American English clinical narratives for 288 patients according to whether they met these criteria. We chose criteria from existing clinical trials that represented a variety of natural language processing tasks, including concept extraction, temporal reasoning, and inference.

Results

A total of 47 teams participated in this shared task, with 224 participants in total. The participants represented 18 countries, and the teams submitted 109 total system outputs. The best-performing system achieved a micro F1 score of 0.91 using a rule-based approach. The top 10 teams used rule-based and hybrid systems to approach the problems.

Discussion

Clinical narratives are open to interpretation, particularly in cases where the selection criterion may be underspecified. This leaves room for annotators to use domain knowledge and intuition in selecting patients, which may lead to error in system outputs. However, teams who consulted medical professionals while building their systems were more likely to have high recall for patients, which is preferable for patient selection systems.

Conclusions

There is not yet a 1-size-fits-all solution for natural language processing systems approaching this task. Future research in this area can look to examining criteria requiring even more complex inferences, temporal reasoning, and domain knowledge.