bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The development of materials science
and engineering in Poland against
the background of the development
of universities of technology in Europe
and the USA
Authors: Kraszewska M.
Published: February 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present the development of materials science
and engineering in Poland against the background of the development of the universities
of technology in Europe and the USA. The research was conducted in the field of literary
studies dealing, amongst other things, with the history and development of the universities.
Design/methodology/approach: In order to perform the research, the author has used
historical, comparative and cultural methods which are characteristic for the humanities.
Findings: Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) was created in the USA in the 1950s
and the 1960s. Over the next two decades, it became popular in many other countries,
including European ones such as Poland. Its development in Poland, in spite of the last
decision of the authorities of particular universities of technology, will be continued in
the following years because it is one of three key disciplines, together with information
technology and biotechnology, which is treated in the world as key to the future prosperity
of developed nations and as a major driving force for global economic growth.
Originality/value: An overview of the available literature related to the topic allows one to
conclude that the previous studies have not analysed the development of materials science
and engineering in Poland against the background of the development of the universities of
technology in Europe and the USA.
The world fauna of Synchroidae Lacordaire, 1859 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionoidea, Synchroidae)
Authors: Hsiao Yun , Konvička Ondřej , Ko Chiun-Cheng
Published: February 2018

Synchroidae Lacordaire, 1859 is a taxonomically and biologically poorly known group. In the present paper, diagnostic characters used to separate genera are analysed and the phylogenetic relationships within this family are preliminarily investigated. Results suggest that the characteristic Synchroa pangu Hsiao, Li, Liu & Pang, 2016 can be removed to establish a new genus, Thescelosynchroa gen. nov. The new combination, T. pangu (Hsiao, Li, Liu & Pang) gen. et comb. nov., is proposed. The definitions of Synchroa Newman, 1838 and Synchroina Fairmaire, 1898 are revised. Moreover, morphological analysis and character comparison also suggest that the familial placement of Mallodrya subaenea Horn, 1888 is questionable. Six species are re-examined and re-diagnosed: Synchroa chinensis Nikitsky, 1999, S. elongatula Nikitsky, 1999, S. formosana Hsiao, 2015, S. melanotoides Lewis, 1895, S. punctata Newman, 1838 and Synchroina tenuipennis Fairmaire, 1898. The male of S. chinensis and the female of S. formosana are described for the first time. Synchroa elongatula and Synchroina tenuipennis are newly recorded from Laos and Indonesia, respectively. We also hypothesize that the Eastern Asian-North American disjunction of Synchroa could be connected to a Mid-Late Tertiary migration of plants via the Bering Land Bridge.
Falling in love and passionate love in an Iranian sample
Authors: Riela Suzanne , Bajoghli Hafez , Xu Xiaomeng (Mona) , Farnia Vahid , Golshani Sanobar , Shakeri Jalal
Published: February 2018

Romantic relationships and passionate love are topics of perennial interest to scientists and the lay public alike. While there is evidence of romantic love across many cultures, with some suggesting it is a universal human experience, the majority of research has been conducted in Western countries (e.g., the U.S.). When other cultures have been researched, the focus has typically been on Eastern countries (e.g., Japan). Much less is known about love experiences in countries such as Iran. The current study sought to address this gap and assessed 220 Iranian students. Participants completed a set of measures (translated into Farsi) and reported both qualitatively and quantitatively about love experiences (e.g., narrative account of their most recent falling in love experience, ratings about their relationship if they were currently in one). The majority of participants reported having fallen in love, although this was a notably smaller proportion (55%) than seen in past research. Similarly, content-analysis of narratives revealed fewer instances of 12 common precursors to falling in love found in past samples, though Iranian participants did highly endorse precursors when explicitly asked about them. Those in a relationship reported passionate love and high levels of closeness to their partner. This study highlights the need for additional love research in under-studied cultures, including research that can elucidate whether these results are due to actual differences in experiences, differences in reporting norms, third variables, or some combination.
Gestão da responsabilidade social como uma ferramenta inclusiva para pessoas com deficiência (PCDI)
Authors: Crocoli Gabriela , Craco Tânia , Silva Caren Fulginiti da , Camargo Maria Emilia , Biegelmeyer Uiliam Hahn , Remussi Rejane , Zanotto Mayara Pires
Published: February 2018

A inclusão de pessoas com deficiência no ambiente laboral ganhou destaque no contexto empresarial após a Lei de Cotas para deficientes. A inclusão de deficientes nas empresas apresenta desafios, principalmente quando se trata de pessoas com deficiência intelectual, que comumente são preteridas no processo de contratação. A metodologia adotada neste trabalho é em caráter exploratório, de abordagem qualitativa, por meio de um estudo de caso. A coleta de dados foi realizada através de entrevistas individuais em profundidade e semiestruturada, mediante aplicação de um roteiro básico de questões. A empresa estudada tem sede em Caxias do Sul – RS. O objetivo foiverificar como se dá o processo de inclusão de pessoas com deficiências intelectuais nesta organização. Os resultados apontam os procedimentos utilizados na contratação e integração, aidentificação de aspectos facilitadores e complicadores na inclusão de pessoas com deficiência intelectual, e as vantagens com relação à prática da responsabilidade social.Verificou-se que a empresa é modelo em inclusão de pessoas com deficiência intelectual, e prioriza essas contratações, beneficiando mutuamente a PcDI, suas famílias e a organização.
D-GENIES : Dot plot large GENomes in an interactive, efficient and simple way
Authors: Klopp Christophe , Cabanettes Floréal
Published: February 2018

Dot plots are widely used to quickly compare sequence sets. They provide a synthetic similarity overview, highlighting repetitions, breaks and inversions. Different tools have been developed to easily generated genomic alignment dot plots, but they are often limited in the input sequence size. D-GENIES is a standalone and WEB application performing large genome alignments using minimap2 software package and generating interactive dot plots. It enables users to sort query sequences along the reference, zoom in the plot and download several image, alignment or sequence files. D-GENIES is an easy to install open source software package (GPL) developed in Python and JavaScript. The source code is available at https://github.com/genotoul-bioinfo/dgenies and it can be tested at http://dgenies.toulouse.inra.fr/.
Accuracy of the Aspartic Acid Racemization Technique in Age Estimation of Mammals and the Influence of Body Temperature
Authors: Garde Eva , Bertelsen Mads F. , Ditlevsen Susanne , Heide-Jørgensen Mads Peter , Nielsen Nynne H. , Frie Anne K. , Olafsdottir Droplaug , Siebert Ursula , Hansen Steen H.
Published: February 2018

The aspartic acid racemization (AAR) technique has been applied for age estimation of humans and other mammals for more than four decades. In this study, eye lenses from 124 animals representing 25 mammalian species were collected and D/L ratios obtained using the AAR technique. The animals were either of known age or had the age estimated by other methods. The purpose of the study was to: a) estimate the accuracy of the AAR technique, and b) examine the effect of body temperature on racemization rates. Samples from four of the 25 species covered the range of ages that is needed to estimate species-specific racemization rates. The sample size from a single species of known age, the pygmy goat (Capra hircus, n = 35), was also large enough to investigate the accuracy of ages obtained using the AAR technique. The 35 goats were divided into three datasets: all goats (n = 35), goats >0.5 yrs old (n = 26) and goats >2 yrs old (n = 19). Leave-one-out analyses were performed on the three sets of data. Normalized root mean squared errors for the group of goats >0.5 yrs old were found to be the smallest. The higher variation in D/L measurements found for young goats <0.5 yrs can probably be explained by a period of continued postnatal growth of the eye lens. Normalized root mean squared errors from the leave-one-out cross-validation analyses based on goats >0.5 yrs old was for three age groups of the goats: 0.934 yrs for young goats <2 yrs (n = 16), 0.102 yrs for adult goats from 2–8 yrs (n = 15) and 0.133 yrs for old goats >8 yrs (n = 4). Thus, the age of an adult or an old animal can be predicted with approximately 10% accuracy, whereas the age of a young animal is difficult to predict. A goat specific racemization rate, as a 2kAsp value, was estimated to 0.0107 ± 3.8 x 10-4 SE (n = 26). The 2kAsp values from 12 species, four estimated in this study and another eight published, were used to examine the effect of core body temperature on the rate of racemization. A positive relationship between AAR and temperature was found (r2 = 0.321) but results also suggest that other factors besides temperature are involved in the racemization process in living animals. Based on our results we emphasize that non-species-specific racemization rates should be used with care in AAR age estimation studies and that the period of postnatal growth of the eye lens be considered when estimating species-specific D/L0 values and ages of young individuals.
A new ICA-based fingerprint method for the automatic removal of physiological artifacts from EEG recordings
Authors: Tamburro Gabriella , Fiedler Patrique , Stone David , Haueisen Jens , Comani Silvia
Published: February 2018

Background

EEG may be affected by artefacts hindering the analysis of brain signals. Data-driven methods like independent component analysis (ICA) are successful approaches to remove artefacts from the EEG. However, the ICA-based methods developed so far are often affected by limitations, such as: the need for visual inspection of the separated independent components (subjectivity problem) and, in some cases, for the independent and simultaneous recording of the inspected artefacts to identify the artefactual independent components; a potentially heavy manipulation of the EEG signals; the use of linear classification methods; the use of simulated artefacts to validate the methods; no testing in dry electrode or high-density EEG datasets; applications limited to specific conditions and electrode layouts.

Methods

Our fingerprint method automatically identifies EEG ICs containing eyeblinks, eye movements, myogenic artefacts and cardiac interference by evaluating 14 temporal, spatial, spectral, and statistical features composing the IC fingerprint. Sixty-two real EEG datasets containing cued artefacts are recorded with wet and dry electrodes (128 wet and 97 dry channels). For each artefact, 10 nonlinear SVM classifiers are trained on fingerprints of expert-classified ICs. Training groups include randomly chosen wet and dry datasets decomposed in 80 ICs. The classifiers are tested on the IC-fingerprints of different datasets decomposed into 20, 50, or 80 ICs. The SVM performance is assessed in terms of accuracy, False Omission Rate (FOR), Hit Rate (HR), False Alarm Rate (FAR), and sensitivity (p). For each artefact, the quality of the artefact-free EEG reconstructed using the classification of the best SVM is assessed by visual inspection and SNR.

Results

The best SVM classifier for each artefact type achieved average accuracy of 1 (eyeblink), 0.98 (cardiac interference), and 0.97 (eye movement and myogenic artefact). Average classification sensitivity (p) was 1 (eyeblink), 0.997 (myogenic artefact), 0.98 (eye movement), and 0.48 (cardiac interference). Average artefact reduction ranged from a maximum of 82% for eyeblinks to a minimum of 33% for cardiac interference, depending on the effectiveness of the proposed method and the amplitude of the removed artefact. The performance of the SVM classifiers did not depend on the electrode type, whereas it was better for lower decomposition levels (50 and 20 ICs).

Discussion

Apart from cardiac interference, SVM performance and average artefact reduction indicate that the fingerprint method has an excellent overall performance in the automatic detection of eyeblinks, eye movements and myogenic artefacts, which is comparable to that of existing methods. Being also independent from simultaneous artefact recording, electrode number, type and layout, and decomposition level, the proposed fingerprint method can have useful applications in clinical and experimental EEG settings.
Condições históricas e sociais que regulam o acesso a terra no espaço agrário brasileiro
Authors: Germani Guiomar Inez
Published: February 2018

Este artigo tem como objetivo traçar a trajetória histórica e social que forjou as bases para o estabelecimento da estrutura e organização do espaço rural no Brasil. Destaca as condições históricas e sociais que regulam o acesso a terra e como estas orientaram o processo de apropriação privada das terras livres em muito poucas mãos desde o período inicial da colonização portuguesa. Analisa, também, como este processo teve continuidade nos períodos posteriores, garantindo e fortalecendo a concentração da estrutura fundiária, como monopólio de classe, enquanto o número de trabalhadores rurais sem terra continua a crescer. É uma tentativa de entender como, em diferentes momentos da história, as relações sociais estabelecidas foram conformando a apropriação privada da natureza e, ao mesmo tempo, a organização do espaço rural, sendo legitimada pelo poder político através de uma legislação que é sempre usada para por obstáculos e dificultar o acesso a terra a amplas camadas da população. Em tempos mais recentes, os trabalhadores rurais sem terra opõem resistência a esta situação. De forma organizada, agem em todo o território nacional tentando por um fim a esta pesada herança e a escrever uma história em novas bases e com novas regras para o acesso a terra.

Abstract

This paper is meant to trace the historical and social trajectory that launched the bases for the Brazilian rural space settlement. It analyses the different forms of access to the land as well as the process which has lead to the capture of the “free lands” in very few hands during the early period of the Portuguese colonization. It also describes how this process has shaped and strengthened the structure of the land monopoly, concentrated and violent by it-self while the number of landless peasants continues to increase. It is an attempt to understand how in different moments of the history, this process was legitimated by the political power through laws that although not always permanent on the paper, were always used to oppose obstacles against the access to the land. Recently, the rural landless workers began to fight this situation. In an organized way, they are acting on the whole national territory with the hope that they will put an end to this heavy heritage and write a new history by themselves with new bases and new rules for the access to the land.
Excessive Afforestation and Soil Drying on China's Loess Plateau
Authors: Zhang Shulei , Yang Dawen , Yang Yuting , Piao Shilong , Yang Hanbo , Lei Huimin , Fu Bojie
Published: February 2018

Afforestation and deforestation as human disturbances to vegetation have profound impacts on ecohydrological processes influencing both water and carbon cycles and ecosystem sustainability. Since 1999, large‐scale revegetation activities such as “Grain‐to‐Green Program” have been implemented across China's Loess Plateau. However, negative ecohydrological consequences, including streamflow decline and soil drying have emerged. Here we estimate the equilibrium vegetation cover over the Loess Plateau based on an ecohydrological model and assess the water balance under the equilibrium and actual vegetation cover over the past decade. Results show that the current vegetation cover (0.48 on average) has already exceeded the climate‐defined equilibrium vegetation cover (0.43 on average) in many parts of the Loess Plateau, especially in the middle‐to‐east regions. This indicates a widespread overplanting, which is found to primarily responsible for soil drying in the area. Additionally, both the equilibrium vegetation cover and soil moisture tend to decrease under future (i.e., 2011–2050) climate scenarios due to declined atmospheric water supply (i.e., precipitation) and increased atmospheric water demand (i.e., potential evapotranspiration). Our findings suggest that further revegetation on the Loess Plateau should be applied with caution. To maintain a sustainable ecohydrological environment in the region, a revegetation threshold is urgently needed to guide future revegetation activities.
Rational Design of Nanosized Light Elements for Hydrogen Storage: Classes, Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties
Authors: Lai Qiwen , Wang Ting , Sun Yahui , Aguey‐Zinsou Kondo‐François
Published: February 2018

Hydrogen is often considered as a technology for the future owing to the limitations of current hydrogen storage materials in powering fuel cell vehicles. However, with the first hydrogen vehicles on the road and the need for better energy storage systems to back up the increasing penetration of renewables, hydrogen‐based technologies will undoubtedly play an ever‐increasing role in future energy schemes. To support the uptake of hydrogen, the challenge is to design better materials than the ones currently available. This means materials capable of reversible hydrogen uptake and release close to the ambient and with a storage capacity approaching 10 wt%. To date, materials with high hydrogen capacity are known but the lack of approaches to fully control the properties of these materials toward the targets for practical application still remains the drawback. In this context, the approach of particle size reduction or nanosizing has recently emerged as a potential mean to gain full control over the properties of high capacity hydride materials. This review aims to summarize current understanding toward the synthesis of nanomaterials and the potential of current knowledge to aid with the synthesis of nanosized hydrides with properties that can ultimately enable hydrogen storage at the ambient.
Intra‐abdominal chemotherapy for peritoneal metastases comes of age?
Authors: Shimada Hideaki
Published: February 2018

This editorial mainly discusses perspectives concerning a review paper by Prof. J. Kitayama.
Iron and infection: An investigation of the optimal iron hypothesis in Lima, Peru
Authors: Dorsey Achsah F. , Thompson Amanda L. , Kleinman Ronald E. , Duggan Christopher P. , Penny Mary E.
Published: February 2018

Objectives

This article explores the optimal iron hypothesis through secondary data analysis of the association between hemoglobin levels and morbidity among children living in Canto Grande, a peri‐urban community located on the outskirts of Lima, Peru.

Methods

Risk ratios were used to test whether lower iron status, assessed using the HemoCue B‐Hemoglobin System, was associated with an increased relative risk of morbidity symptoms compared to iron replete status, controlling for infant age, sex, weight for height z‐score, maternal education, and repeated measures in 515 infants aged 6‐12 months.

Results

Infants with fewer current respiratory and diarrheal morbidity symptoms had a lower risk of low iron deficiency compared to participants who were iron replete (P < .10). Infants with fewer current respiratory infection symptoms had a statistically significant (P < .05) reduction in risk of moderate iron deficiency compared to infants who were iron replete.

Conclusion

In this study, morbidity status was not predictive of iron deficient status over a six‐month interval period, but nonreplete iron status was shown to be associated with current morbidity symptoms. These results support investigating iron status as an allostatic system that responds to infection adaptively, rather than expecting an optimal preinfection value.
Chiroptical spectroscopy and metabolomics for blood‐based sensing of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Habartová Lucie , Bunganič Bohuš , Tatarkovič Michal , Zavoral Miroslav , Vondroušová Jana , Syslová Kamila , Setnička Vladimír
Published: February 2018

To enable the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, the search for and definition of reliable biomarkers remain a subject of great interest, with the specificity and sensitivity of the currently used biomarkers being below the required values. We tested a novel diagnostic approach for pancreatic cancer based on the specific molecular signature of blood plasma components. To acquire more detailed structural information, structure‐sensitive chiroptical methods (electronic circular dichroism and Raman optical activity) were supplemented by conventional Raman and infrared spectroscopies. The obtained spectra were subsequently processed by linear discriminant analysis yielding high values of specificity and sensitivity. In addition, to monitor not only large biomolecules as potential biomarkers but also those of low molecular weight, we conducted an analysis of blood plasma samples by using metabolomics. The achieved results suggest a panel of promising biomarkers for a reliable detection of pancreatic cancer.
Enrichment of Methylated Peptides Using an Antibody‐free Approach for Global Methylproteomics Analysis
Authors: Wang Keyun , Ye Mingliang
Published: February 2018

Protein methylation is receiving increasing attention for its important role in regulating diverse biological processes, including epigenetic regulation of gene transcription, RNA processing, DNA damage repair, and signal transduction. Proteome level analysis of protein methylation requires the enrichment of various forms of methylated peptides. Unfortunately, immunoaffinity purification can only enrich a subset of them due to the lack of pan‐specific antibodies. Chromatography‐based methods, however, can enrich methylated peptides in a global manner. Here we present a chromatography‐based approach for highly efficient enrichment of methylated peptides. Protocols for the of high pH SCXtip preparation and methyl‐peptide purification are described in detail. Key points such as cell culture in hM‐SILAC medium and protein digestion by multiple endopeptidases are also presented. This technique allows the simultaneous analysis of both lysine and arginine methylation and improved performance for methyl‐arginine identification. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Phenotypic integration and the evolution of signal repertoires: A case study of treefrog acoustic communication
Authors: Reichert Michael S. , Höbel Gerlinde
Published: February 2018

Animal signals are inherently complex phenotypes with many interacting parts combining to elicit responses from receivers. The pattern of interrelationships between signal components reflects the extent to which each component is expressed, and responds to selection, either in concert with or independently of others. Furthermore, many species have complex repertoires consisting of multiple signal types used in different contexts, and common morphological and physiological constraints may result in interrelationships extending across the multiple signals in species’ repertoires. The evolutionary significance of interrelationships between signal traits can be explored within the framework of phenotypic integration, which offers a suite of quantitative techniques to characterize complex phenotypes. In particular, these techniques allow for the assessment of modularity and integration, which describe, respectively, the extent to which sets of traits covary either independently or jointly. Although signal and repertoire complexity are thought to be major drivers of diversification and social evolution, few studies have explicitly measured the phenotypic integration of signals to investigate the evolution of diverse communication systems. We applied methods from phenotypic integration studies to quantify integration in the two primary vocalization types (advertisement and aggressive calls) in the treefrogsHyla versicolor,Hyla cinerea,andDendropsophus ebraccatus. We recorded male calls and calculated standardized phenotypic variance–covariance (P) matrices for characteristics within and across call types. We found significant integration across call types, but the strength of integration varied by species and corresponded with the acoustic similarity of the call types within each species.H. versicolorhad the most modular advertisement and aggressive calls and the least acoustically similar call types. Additionally,Pwas robust to changing social competition levels inH. versicolor. Our findings suggest new directions in animal communication research in which the complex relationships among the traits of multiple signals are a key consideration for understanding signal evolution.
Bank risk, financial stress, and bank derivative use
Authors: Bliss Barbara A. , Clark Jeffrey A. , DeLisle R. Jared
Published: February 2018

This paper distinguishes hedging from speculative derivative usage by U.S. bank holding companies (BHCs). This is accomplished by implementing a multi‐step procedure that relates the implied volatility from options on these banks, the broad components of the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank Financial Stress Index, and off‐balance sheet derivatives. Our results indicate that BHCs with positive risk exposure to various financial stresses generally use interest rate, foreign exchange, equity, commodity, and credit derivatives to reduce their risk exposure to these financial stresses.
A high‐frequency trade execution model for supervised learning
Authors: Dixon Matthew
Published: February 2018

This article introduces a high‐frequency trade execution model to evaluate the economic impact of supervised machine learners. Extending the concept of a confusion matrix, we present a “trade information matrix” to attribute the expected profit and loss of the high‐frequency strategy under execution constraints, such as fill probabilities and position dependent trade rules, to correct and incorrect predictions. We apply the trade execution model and trade information matrix to Level II E‐mini S&P 500 futures history and demonstrate an estimation approach for measuring the sensitivity of the P&L to the error of a recurrent neural network. Our approach directly evaluates the performance sensitivity of a market‐making strategy to prediction error and augments traditional market simulation‐based testing.
A novel GLP‐1/GIP/Gcg triagonist reduces cognitive deficits and pathology in the 3xTg mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Li Tian , Jiao Juan‐Juan , Hölscher Christian , Wu Mei‐Na , Zhang Jun , Tong Jia‐Qing , Dong Xue‐Fan , Qu Xue‐Song , Cao Yue , Cai Hong‐Yan , Su Qiang , Qi Jin‐Shun
Published: February 2018

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) have been identified to be effective in T2DM treatment and neuroprotection. In this study, we further explored the effects of a novel unimolecular GLP‐1/GIP/Gcg triagonist on the cognitive behavior and cerebral pathology in the 7‐month‐old triple transgenic mouse model of AD (3xTg‐AD), and investigated its possible electrophysiological and molecular mechanisms. After chronic administration of the GLP‐1/GIP/Gcg triagonist (10 nmol/kg bodyweight, once daily, i.p.) for 30 days, open field, Y maze and Morris water maze tests were performed, followed by in vivo electrophysiological recording, immunofluorescence and Western blotting experiments. We found that the chronic treatment with the triagonist could improve long‐term spatial memory of 3xTg‐AD mice in Morris water maze, as well as the working memory in Y maze task. The triagonist also alleviated the suppression of long‐term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of hippocampus. In addition, the triagonist significantly reduced hippocampal pathological damages, including amyloid‐β (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau aggregates, and upregulated the expression levels of S133p‐CREB, T286p‐CAMKII and S9p‐GSK3β in the hippocampus of the 3xTg‐AD mice. These results demonstrate for the first time that the novel GLP‐1/GIP/Gcg triagonist is efficacious in ameliorating cognitive deficits and pathological damages of 3xTg‐AD mice, suggesting that the triagonist might be potentially beneficial in the treatment of AD.
Administrative reform and pay‐for‐performance methods of primary health service delivery: A comparison of 3 health districts in Cambodia, 2006‐2012
Authors: Khim Keovathanak , Jayasuriya Rohan , Annear Peter Leslie
Published: February 2018

Since 1999, performance‐based financing or pay‐for‐performance (P4P) methods have been piloted in the Cambodian public health sector, first as one part of external contracting approaches with international nongovernment organizations and from 2009 as a part of internal contracting arrangements between units within the Ministry of Health under a wider public sector administrative reform. This study analyses these reforms and compares outcomes in 3 health districts. The study analysed routine quantitative data for primary care service delivery by using the interrupted time series method. Qualitative data were collected from key informant interviews. Both the level and the trend line of key service delivery indicators during earlier contracting/P4P models were at least maintained and in most cases increased with the move to internal contracting. The results of the interrupted time series analysis were mixed, mainly due to contextual issues. Qualitative results indicated an increased sense of local ownership and financial sustainability. Despite the gains, the management of personnel and the implementation and the integrity of contract monitoring were found to be compromised in this case. To be fully effective, contracting and P4P approaches must be accompanied by changes in the structure and culture of government administration.
Relationships between Measures of NOM in Quabbin Watershed
Authors: Garvey Elisa A. , Tobiason John E.
Published: February 2018

Natural organic matter (NOM) in water sources differs in terms of both character and concentration. Water treatment processes and the aesthetic quality of water may be influenced by NOM concentration and character. NOM is also related to nutrient cycling and availability and the general trophic state of an aquatic ecosystem. Quabbin Reservoir is the primary drinking water source for metropolitan Boston, Massachusetts. Measures of NOM present in samples collected from the watershed included, but were not limited to, total organic carbon (TOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ultraviolet absorbance (UVA), and trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP). Samples were collected at the mouths of the 12 major Quabbin tributaries and from a horizontal transect of six sites within the reservoir. A variation was found in the relationships between measures of NOM from the reservoir and tributary samples. Regression analyses showed positive linear relationships between DOC and UVA, THMFP and TOC, and THMFP and UVA. Relationships between measures of NOM in the reservoir samples were weaker than those obtained for the tributary samples. These weaker relationships were attributed to the low concentrations and narrow ranges of measures of NOM in the reservoir and the overall complexity of the aquatic system.
Occurrence of Transient Low and Negative Pressures in Distribution Systems
Authors: Gullick Richard W. , Lechevallier Mark W. , Svindland Richard C. , Friedman Melinda J.
Published: February 2018

The production of transient low and negative pressures in otherwise pressurized potable water supply distribution systems creates the opportunity for contaminated water to enter the system from external environments. This article documents the occurrence of transient low and negative pressures in distribution systems as a result of a variety of system features and operations. Fifteen surge events were observed that resulted in a negative pressure, with most of these caused by the sudden shutdown of all of the pumps at a pump station because of either unintentional (e.g., power outages) or intentional (e.g., pump stoppage or startup tests) circumstances. Smaller but still substantial surges were produced by shutdown of pumps while other pumps remained running as well as by operational occurrences such as flushing, hydrant use, and main breaks. The authors also compare the efficacy of different types of pressure‐monitoring devices for detecting transient pressure surges.
Embracing a Diverse Twenty–first Century Workforce
Authors: Ríos Raquel
Published: February 2018

This article discusses how U.S. organizations are making an ongoing commitment to diversity initiatives and getting involved in education initiatives to help ensure that the twenty‐first century workforce is qualified to deal with the diversity issues that are coming in the future. Organizations are leveraging the similarities and differences of their team members in order to attract and maintain quality employees and to understand the diverse needs of the community so they can respond to them in a flexible way. The article discusses the changing cultural landscape, how the percentage of U.S. public school students considered to be part of a racial or ethnic minority group has changed over the last 25 years, and gaps between ethnic groups concerning education and the unemployment rate. Several strategies for achieving diversity goals are provided.
Pitting corrosion of copper in waters with high pH and low alkalinity
Authors: Lytle Darren A. , Schock Michael R.
Published: February 2018

Corrosion of copper pipes has been associated with waters with high pH and low alkalinity that also contain significant levels of chloride and sulfate. This study systematically evaluated the effect of pH, alkalinity (or dissolved inorganic carbon [DIC]), orthophosphate, and sulfate on the nature of copper corrosion using a pilot‐scale experimental pipe loop system. Experiments were conducted in the absence of silica, aluminum, or organic carbon, which previously have been linked to pitting corrosion in drinking water systems, and all test waters contained moderate levels of chloride. The study also investigated the effect of chlorine concentration and form of chorine on copper‐pitting corrosion. Results showed that pitting corrosion of copper pipes was reproduced in the pilot‐scale systems after only 91 days of operation. Pitting corrosion occurred in water with low chlorine concentration and DIC and in pH 9 water in the presence of chloride. Pitting was not observed at pH 6.5 and 7 and was evident at pH 8 only when higher chlorine levels were maintained. Sulfate was not necessary to develop pitting corrosion; however, it did affect the composition of the corrosion by‐products
Integration of desalinated seawater into a distribution system: A corrosion pilot study
Authors: Blute Nicole K. , McGuire Michael J. , West Nicole , Voutchkov Nikolay , Maclaggan Peter , Reich Ken
Published: February 2018

A proposed seawater desalination plant for Carlsbad, Calif., will produce treated water that varies from the city—s typical imported surface water supply. A six‐month pilot study was conducted to compare how Carlsbad distribution materials would be affected by the potential corrosion that might arise from conditioned desalinated seawater versus the city—s typical supply. Various distribution and home plumbing appurtenances were evaluated in parallel test systems, including copper pipe, brass service meters, cement‐mortar‐lined pipe, and cast‐iron distribution system gate valves. Corrosion was assessed by analyzing changes in water quality caused by pipe corrosion or passivation, including metal concentration (iron, zinc, lead, copper, and aluminum), calcium, alkalinity, and turbidity changes. Pilot testing demonstrated that conditioned reverse osmosis permeate achieving minimum water quality goals—alkalinity of 45 mg/L as calcium carbonate (CaCO3), hardness of 40 mg/L as CaCO3, and pH of 8.5—was not likely to trigger new corrosion problems in the Carlsbad distribution system.
A game plan for aging water infrastructure
Authors: Baird Gregory M.
Published: February 2018

The aging water infrastructure (AWI) dilemma requires a straightforward road map to address the issue as a financial problem. The basic steps should be understood by water utility management, politicians, and members of the public. Once this common ground is established, collaborative partnerships can be formed and professionals from a variety of disciplines can work through the steps. The game plan presented in this article uses the AWI solution cycle to offer basic steps to – among other things – reduce costs, find every available funding source, create new partnerships, conduct condition assessments, communicate with the stakeholders, address rate affordability challenges, build an asset management program, and achieve sustainability. As these basic steps are followed, cost efficiencies will occur and costly mistakes will be avoided. In addition, overall asset risk will decrease, and infrastructure investment funding gaps will be reduced. In order to move forward on AWI, the focus must be shifted from an engineering problem to a financial problem. Likewise, moving forward with condition assessment ahead of a total asset management program offers small and medium utilities a chance to better allocate funding and reduce risk early in the process.
Condition assessment modeling for distribution systems using shared frailty analysis
Authors: Clark Robert M. , Carson John , Thurnau Robert C. , Krishnan Radha , Panguluri Srinivas
Published: February 2018

Condition assessment modeling is drawing increasing interest as a technique that can assist in managing drinking water infrastructure. This article develops a Cox proportional hazard (PH)/ shared frailty model and applies it to the problem of investment in the repair and replacement of drinking water distribution system components. The model has been applied to a pipe break database collected by the city of Laramie (Wyo.) Utility Division to show how such models can help managers understand the factors affecting the survival of drinking water pipe sections or entire pipelines or pipe runs. Shared frailty represents unobserved external factors, known to be important, which vary randomly and are more consistent among sections in the same pipe run than among sections in different pipe runs. Results from the model developed in this article indicate that metal pipe has fewer breaks on average, than polyvinyl chloride pipe but that it is more subject to undefined random factors. The Cox PH model is used to develop expected piperun break curves. In addition the Cox PH/shared frailty model is used within the inspection value method to assist in making improved repair, replacement, and rehabilitation decisions for selected drinking water distribution system pipes.
Disease Duration and Stage Influence Bone Microstructure in Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis
Authors: Schmidt Tobias , Schmidt Constantin , Schmidt Felix N , Butscheidt Sebastian , Mussawy Haider , Hubert Jan , Hawellek Thelonius , Oehler Nicola , Barvencik Florian , Lohse Ansgar W , Schinke Thorsten , Schramm Christoph , Amling Michael , Rolvien Tim
Published: February 2018

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is known to be a major risk factor for osteoporosis reflected by a reduction of bone mineral density (BMD). However, both the extent of the macro- and microstructural alterations of bone as well as the causative factors are unknown. We have retrospectively analyzed a total of 96 patients with PBC and 53 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and body mass index. In addition to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements at the lumbar spine and hip, high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) was used to assess the geometric, volumetric, and microstructural changes of bone at the distal radius and tibia. Furthermore, serum analyses and measures of disease duration and stage including transient elastography were performed. Total, cortical, and trabecular volumetric BMD as well as geometric parameters were significantly reduced in PBC patients. Microstructural analysis revealed a significantly lower cortical thickness (p < 0.001) and bone volume per tissue volume (p < 0.001) in the radius and tibia but unchanged trabecular number in patients with PBC (radius: p = 0.42; tibia: p = 0.12). Multivariate regression models pointed out that disease duration and stage are the primary factors that are independently associated with bone loss in PBC. A subgroup analysis of patients with additional autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) revealed no significant changes in bone structure compared with PBC only. Taken together, PBC patients demonstrate severe alterations in bone microstructure that are positively associated with disease duration and stage. By applying HR-pQCT in the distal radius and tibia, a combined bone loss syndrome expressed by a predominant decrease in BMD and cortical thickness could be detected. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
HEPATOFLUO: A prospective monocentric study assessing the benefits of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence for hepatic surgery
Authors: Peyrat Patrice , Blanc Ellen , Guillermet Stéphanie , Chen Yao , Ferlay Céline , Perol David , Basso Valéria , Rivoire Michel , Dupré Aurélien
Published: February 2018

Background and Objectives

Fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) is undergoing extensive development. This study aimed to assess the merits of ICG in regard to hepatic surgery.

Methods

Patients with liver lesions that required a resection were eligible. They received an injection of ICG the day before the surgery. Step 1 allowed assessment of use of the medical device under surgical conditions. Steps 2 and 3 assessed the capacity of the MD to detect known tumorous lesions and to spot a predefined area of the liver following injection of ICG into the portal vein (ICGp).

Results

The 1st step allowed for validation of the MD use with three patients. Between 04‐2013 and 04‐2015, 45 pts were included (40 eligible) in steps 2 and 3. All of the tumorous lesions (95/119) exhibited fluorescence. Four new metastasis were detected in 3 pts, and two missing metastases in 1 pt. False positive were 22%. The maximal depth for detection by fluorescence was 13 mm. Injection of ICGp allowed the corresponding anatomical area to be identified in 16/20 patients.

Conclusion

This study confirmed that intraoperative fluorescence is a helpful and relevant tool for the liver surgeon (NCT 01738217).
Density of American black bears in New Mexico
Authors: Gould Matthew J. , Cain James W. , Roemer Gary W. , Gould William R. , Liley Stewart G.
Published: February 2018

Considering advances in noninvasive genetic sampling and spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) models, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish sought to update their density estimates for American black bear (Ursus americanus) populations in New Mexico, USA, to aide in setting sustainable harvest limits. We estimated black bear density in the Sangre de Cristo, Sandia, and Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico, 2012–2014. We collected hair samples from black bears using hair traps and bear rubs and used a sex marker and a suite of microsatellite loci to individually genotype hair samples. We then estimated density in a SECR framework using sex, elevation, land cover type, and time to model heterogeneity in detection probability and the spatial scale over which detection probability declines. We sampled the populations using 554 hair traps and 117 bear rubs and collected 4,083 hair samples. We identified 725 (367 male, 358 female) individuals. Our density estimates varied from 16.5 bears/100 km2(95% CI = 11.6–23.5) in the southern Sacramento Mountains to 25.7 bears/100 km2(95% CI = 13.2–50.1) in the Sandia Mountains. Overall, detection probability at the activity center (g0) was low across all study areas and ranged from 0.00001 to 0.02. The low values of g0 were primarily a result of half of all hair samples for which genotypes were attempted failing to produce a complete genotype. We speculate that the low success we had genotyping hair samples was due to exceedingly high levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that degraded the DNA in the hair. Despite sampling difficulties, we were able to produce density estimates with levels of precision comparable to those estimated for black bears elsewhere in the United States. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Event‐triggered and guaranteed cost finite‐time H∞ control for uncertain switched linear systems
Authors: Qi Yiwen , Liu Yanhui , Bao Wen , Li Xianling , Cui Jianguo , Zhu Linlin
Published: February 2018

This paper is concerned with the event‐triggered and guaranteed cost finite‐time H∞ control problem for uncertain switched linear systems with exogenous disturbance. Instead of one common strategy, multiple event‐triggering strategies are first proposed, ie, each subsystem possesses its own corresponding event‐triggering substrategy. Then, by utilizing the multiple Lyapunov functions and average dwell‐time method, sufficient conditions for the finite‐time boundedness with an H∞ performance level of the resulting event‐triggered switched closed‐loop system are derived. Meanwhile, a certain upper bound of the guaranteed cost function with respect to the system uncertainties is obtained. Subsequently, a set of sufficient conditions in terms of linear matrix inequalities is given for solving the event‐triggered and guaranteed cost finite‐time H∞ state feedback controllers. Furthermore, the Zeno sampling behavior is excluded by presenting a positive lower bound estimation on the interexecution intervals. Finally, numerical simulations are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.