bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Empowerment estructural: potenciando la capacidad innovadora de las organizaciones
Authors: Román José , Pereira Paulo Almeida , Ribeiro Célia
Published: November 2019

O objetivo fundamental deste trabalho de investigação é identificar o nível de empowerment estrutural em colaboradores pertencentes a empresas com características inovadoras. Desenhou-se um estudo de caráter exploratório, descritivo e correlacional com a utilização de métodos de investigação quantitativa. A amostra é constituída por 90 colaboradores pertencentes a três empresas consideradas como possuindo características inovadoras, do distrito de Viseu, Portugal. Os resultados permitem verificar o impacto do empowerment estrutural nas características sociodemográficas e profissionais dos colaboradores nas três empresas consideradas como inovadoras, em função de quatro dimensões: oportunidade, informação, apoio e recursos. Efetivamente, estas quatro dimensões apresentaram relações significativas entre si e contribuem positivamente para a perceção dos colaboradores sobre o empowerment estrutural. Verificou-se também que os colaboradores que têm menor experiência profissional e menos tempo de serviço nas empresas apresentam um maior nível de empowerment estrutural.
Inovação e outsourcing: o caso da Volkswagen do brasil
Authors: Oliveira António José , Ribeiro Paulo Castro
Published: November 2019

Atualmente as tecnologias de informação sustentam operações empresariais, unem elos distantes de cadeias de fornecimento e ainda, empresas a clientes. Neste artigo analisamos as motivações que levam uma empresa a promover outsourcing de atividades, ligadas aos seus processos de engenharia, tendo como foco principal o desenvolvimento de novos produtos, sem descurar os riscos associados ao outsourcing. O Business Process Outsourcing é uma decisão estratégica, que apresenta resultados a médio/longo prazo. O trabalho empírico de suporte a este artigo intitula-se “Outsourcing nas atividades de desenvolvimento de novos produtos, o caso da Volkswagen do Brasil”, elaborado por Pereira, Scur & Mello. O estudo é qualitativo, pois foi realizado por amostragem, através de entrevistas presenciais, gravadas com autorização dos entrevistados. Este estudo contribui para o desenvolvimento da atividade empresarial. Identifica as razões pelas quais uma empresa do setor automóvel subcontrata “fornecedores” para realizar as suas atividades e desenvolver novos produtos. Conclui-se que a opção pelo outsourcing está relacionada com a falta de um determinado recurso ou capacidade para realizar a atividade. Foram apontados como riscos do outsourcing, a fuga de conhecimento, a perda de capacidade crítica e consequentemente, a dependência em relação ao fornecedor e ainda, a capacidade da empresa em adquirir novas tecnologias.
Adaptação cultural, validade e fiabilidade da escala pessoal de resultados-crianças e jovens
Authors: Simões Cristina , Ribeiro Célia , Cabral Inês , Pereira Paulo Almeida
Published: November 2019

A presente investigação apresenta os resultados de um estudo piloto que tem como objetivos efetuar a adaptação cultural da Escala Pessoal de Resultados-Crianças e Jovens (EPR-CJ), bem como examinar a sua validade e fiabilidade. Esta escala possibilita avaliar a Qualidade de Vida (QV) das crianças e jovens com Dificuldade Intelectual (DI). Das diferentes amostras englobadas nesta investigação, salienta-se que a amostra final incluiu 54 crianças e jovens com DI e 54 profissionais de educação. O estudo iniciou com a aplicação das diretrizes internacionais relativas à adaptação cultural. Os resultados do Índice de Validade de Conteúdo (IVC) dos itens, do acordo universal do IVC do instrumento, da média do IVC da escala e dos valores do Kappa de Cohen suportaram a validade de conteúdo, tendo as correlações de Pearson reforçado a validade de constructo da EPR-CJ. Os valores do teste-reteste, da consistência interna e do acordo entre observadores sustentaram a fiabilidade do instrumento. Os diferentes coeficientes psicométricos ilustraram que esta escala pode ser bastante útil para a avaliação da QV das crianças e jovens com DI, sendo a EPR-CJ crucial para desenhar os programas de intervenção destes alunos em contextos inclusivos de aprendizagem.
Família: ontem como hoje, permanente educadora
Authors: Martins Maria , Sarmento Teresa , Alves Sónia
Published: November 2019

A família, enquanto primeira instância de formação e socialização da criança, que se mantém ao longo da vida como permanente educadora, parece continuar a não suscitar o interesse que seria desejável por parte dos investigadores, pelo que continua a ser percecionada um pouco como “caixa negra”, ou seja, cujo funcionamento fica registado nos seus educandos mas oculto em termos públicos. Neste texto realiza-se uma abordagem à instituição familiar em termos de conceptualização, funções e sucessivas recriações estruturais, procurando-se contribuir para uma melhor apreensão da complexidade do fenómeno educativo, assumindo a imprescindibilidade da família nesse processo e o “peso imensurável que tem no desenvolvimento das pessoas” (Caeiro, 2005:21). Numa postura reflexiva, é apresentada uma análise em torno das várias tipologias familiares - da mais tradicional às pós-modernas – com destaque para as funções que socialmente sempre lhe foram e continuam a ser atribuídas.
Germination and Seedling Growth Response on Lithocarpus elegans (Fagaceae) Seeds to Pre-sowing Treatments and Fertilizer Application
Authors: Nandi Rajasree , Dey Soma , Hossain M. K.
Published: November 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different pre-sowing treatments of seeds on germination and growth performance of native threatened tree species Lithocarpus elegans at the nursery of Chittagong University, Bangladesh. Seeds were placed to eight pre-sowing treatments e.g. control (PT0), treated with sand paper rubbing (PT1), nicking (PT2), seeds immersed in cold water for 24 hours (PT3), seeds immersed in cold water for 48 hours (PT4) and seeds immersed in cold water for 7 days (PT5), seeds sown at propagator house (PT6), seeds immersed in cold water for 7 days and then sown at propagator house (PT7). Germination percentage was found highest (100%) in seeds sown at propagator house (PT6) followed by seeds immersion in cold water for 24 hours (PT3) (91.11%). For fertilizer dose experiment to seedlings at the nursery level, treatment FT1: 100 kg/ha (0.33679 g urea/pot/seedling) comparing with other treatments FT0: 0 kg/ha (Control), FT2:  200 kg/ha (0.67358 g urea/pot/seedling) showed better performance in case of shoot length, collar diameter, number of leaves, shoot fresh weight, total fresh weight, total dry weight, volume index.  Finally, it can be concluded that Lithocarpus elegans seedlings revealed better performances under the seed pre-treatment PT6 (seeds sown at propagator house) and fertilizer dose FT1 (100 kg N ha-1) in growth and biomass production.
A Hybrid Approach for Skew Detection and Correction in the Multi-script Scanned Document
Authors: Ramanan M.
Published: November 2019

Skew detection and correction of a scanned document is a very important step in Optical Character Recognition because skew of scanned document is reducing the accuracy of text line approach for skew detection and correction to calculate the skew angle on multi-script scanned document using Radon transform, Hough transform, Harries corner, Wiener filter and smearing algorithm. In this paper, a proposed approach is compared existing skew detection and correction techniques for printed documents having different scripts: English, Tamil, Sinhala and mixed-script. A proposed hybrid method is tested on 160 documents. The overall testing results is 90.62% for skew detection and correction.
Successful Primary PCI in a Patient with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiogenic Shock with Super-dominant Right Coronary Artery and Absent Left Circumflex Artery
Authors: Singh Gurkirat , Bodkhe Mahesh , Jain Akshat , Gupta Aditya , Bansal Narender Omprakash
Published: November 2019

Super-dominant right coronary artery and the absent left circumflex artery is a rare congenital coronary anomaly, with only a few cases reported in the literature. Left anterior descending artery arises directly from the left anterior coronary cusp. Rare coronary anomalies are sometimes encountered during primary percutaneous interventions, which may lead to changes in the course of action. We report a case of a 38-year-old patient admitted with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock. Coronary angiography revealed super-dominant right coronary artery and absent left circumflex artery. There was thrombotic occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending artery. The patient underwent successful primary percutaneous intervention of the left anterior descending artery with a good result, was discharged after 5 days. Our case also shows the importance of taking coronary angiogram of the contralateral artery first, before taking the shoot of the infarct-related artery.
Nursing Diagnostics in the Chagas Cardiomyopathy Carrier: Integrative Literature Review
Authors: Sardinha Daniele Melo , Silva Ana Gracinda Ignácio Da , Carvalho Dayara De Nazaré Rosa De , Aguiar Vviane Ferraz Ferreira De , Simor Alziney
Published: November 2019

Chagas' cardiomyopathy is a complication of Chagas' disease that presents in the cardiac form, which involves the manifestation of a clinical picture of dilated cardiomyopathy, with global left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure syndrome. In this context, the aim is to describe the Nursing Diagnosis evidenced in the literature in patients with Chagasic Cardiomyopathy. This is a descriptive and exploratory study of the Integrative Literature Review (ILR), with a qualitative approach. We searched the LILACS and PubMed databases for articles published without time limit, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, with the descriptors: Chagasic Cardiomyopathy; Nursing Diagnosis; Nursing Care. Data were analyzed by tabulation. Three articles were sought for the sample. The following Nursing diagnoses were highlighted: Decreased Cardiac Output; Intolerance to Activity; Poor Knowledge; Sleep and Rest impaired; Anxiety; Excessive fluid volume; Risk of impaired skin integrity; and Comfort impaired. It is concluded that the diagnoses are directly related to heart failure caused by ventricular damage, and that interventions are essential for the improvement in the quality of life of patients. It is also noteworthy that the applicability of the Systematization of Nursing Care in these patients only improves the quality of service and has repercussions on patient safety, being also a way to promote the health of patients.
Serial Electrocardiographic Changes in a Young Female with Acute Myocarditis
Authors: Singh Gurkirat , Bodkhe Mahesh , Jain Akshat , Bansal Narender Omprakash
Published: November 2019

Electrocardiographic changes in myocarditis mimic a wide range of ECG diagnoses ranging from ST-elevation myocardial infarction to complete heart block. We report a case of acute myocarditis in a young female with a wide range of ECG changes that mimic ST-elevation myocardial infarction and atrioventricular block.
Regulation of Plant Morphogenesis: Generation of Anisotropy at Cellular and Tissue Levels
Authors: Baillie Alice L. , Fleming Andrew J.
Published: November 2019

Plant morphogenesis fundamentally relies on unequal or ‘anisotropic’ growth to generate variation in form. The mechanisms that regulate the production of specific organ shapes are many and varied, and interact with one another, resulting in a complex regulatory network. This complexity of regulation may contribute to the robustness of plant morphogenesis, and also allows the integration of environmental inputs with endogenous signals. Here we examine a range of mechanisms that regulate plant development, focussing first on processes that occur at the level of the cell, then considering how the activities of many cells are coordinated across tissues to produce organs and organisms.
Planar Growth, Integration, and Applications of Semiconducting Nanowires
Authors: Sun Ying , Dong Taige , Yu Linwei , Xu Jun , Chen Kunji
Published: November 2019

Silicon and other inorganic semiconductor nanowires (NWs) have been extensively investigated in the last two decades for constructing high‐performance nanoelectronics, sensors, and optoelectronics. For many of these applications, these tiny building blocks have to be integrated into the existing planar electronic platform, where precise location, orientation, and layout controls are indispensable. In the advent of More‐than‐Moore's era, there are also emerging demands for a programmable growth engineering of the geometry, composition, and line‐shape of NWs on planar or out‐of‐plane 3D sidewall surfaces. Here, the critical technologies established for synthesis, transferring, and assembly of NWs upon planar surface are examined; then, the recent progress of in‐plane growth of horizontal NWs directly upon crystalline or patterned substrates, constrained by using nanochannels, an epitaxial interface, or amorphous thin film precursors is discussed. Finally, the unique capabilities of planar growth of NWs in achieving precise guided growth control, programmable geometry, composition, and line‐shape engineering are reviewed, followed by their latest device applications in building high‐performance field‐effect transistors, photodetectors, stretchable electronics, and 3D stacked‐channel integration.
A Contact‐Sliding‐Triboelectrification‐Driven Dynamic Optical Transmittance Modulator for Self‐Powered Information Covering and Selective Visualization
Authors: Zhang Chen , Guo Zihao , Zheng Xiaoxiong , Zhao Xuejiao , Wang Hailu , Liang Fei , Guan Song , Wang Ying , Zhao Yongbin , Chen Aihua , Zhu Guang , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: November 2019

Triboelectrification‐enabled self‐powered flexible electronic/optical systems have aroused a new surge of interest in recent years. All‐in‐one integration of such a system, which could significantly improve its adaptability, operability, and portability, still remains a challenge due to the absence of suitable architectures and integration schemes. Herein, a previously reported self‐powered optical switch (OS) is thoroughly remolded and upgraded to a fully integrated contact‐sliding‐triboelectrification‐driven dynamic optical transmittance modulator (OTM). The OTM is constructed with a multilayered structure, comprising a transparent triboelectrification top layer, a SiO2‐spaced polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) intermediate layer, and a flexible transparent conductive substrate. The working mechanism is that an alternating electric field can be induced once contact‐sliding occurs upon the OTM, rendering the PDLC layer immediately switching its initial translucent state to an instantaneous transparent state. As such, a decent dimming range with the relative transmitted light intensity from 0.17 to 0.72 can be achieved at low mechanical thresholds of contact pressure (≈20 kPa) and sliding velocity (≈0.3 m s−1). Moreover, for practical applications, demonstrations of information covering and selective visualization are successfully implemented without any extra optical elements nor external power supplies, explicitly showing great potential for the OTM in various self‐powered optical interactive applications.
Palladium Catalysed Acid‐Free Carboxytelomerisation of 1,3‐Butadiene with Alcohols Accessing Pelargonic Acid Derivatives Including Triglycerides under Selectivity Control
Authors: Vogelsang Dennis , Vondran Johanna , Hares Kevin , Schäfer Kevin , Seidensticker Thomas , Vorholt Andreas J.
Published: November 2019

Palladium catalysed carboxytelomerisation of 1,3‐butadiene with alcohols yields unsaturated C9‐pelargonic esters in an atom‐economic and straightforward way. Although carboxytelomerisation is of current interest, limitations of applicable alcohol substrates have not been fully investigated. In here, we present the transfer of the catalytic system comprising palladium acetate and tri‐n‐butyl phosphine in pyridine to a broad variety of 20 alcohols with vast difference in nucleophilicity and sterical demands yielding the corresponding esters in a 100% atom economic manner. Effects of nucleophilicity and sterical demands were revealed for monoalcohols, di‐ and polyols. Whilst yields, chemoselectivity and E/Z‐selectivity of the pelargonic acid derivatives were excellent with up to 99%, selectivity towards mono‐, di‐ and triesters could be controlled successfully. Finally, the reaction profile of the carboxytelomerisation glycerol was uncovered, yielding up to 97% of industrially relevant unsaturated C9‐short chain fats.

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An object‐based approach to support the automatic delineation of magnetic anomalies
Authors: Hegyi Alexandru , Vernica Milja‐Miroslav , Drăguţ Lucian
Published: November 2019

The intensive use of geophysics in archaeological investigations demands new ways of fast and meaningful data interpretation. With the increasing size and complexity of magnetometer data, manual identification and delineation of magnetic anomalies becomes a time‐consuming activity. In this respect, our study introduces a new approach to automate this laborious procedure, implemented as a ready‐to‐use tool within the eCognition® software. The approach relies on a multiresolution segmentation (MRS) algorithm, which is applied on a single layer containing magnetic values. Magnetic anomalies are automatically identified and delineated at three levels of scale. Magnetic anomalies are thus classified as potential archaeological features. The degree of departure from a normal distribution is adjustable at 0.5 and 1 standard deviation (SD), respectively. The approach was tested on magnetometer images of a buried medieval village in the west of Romania. The data were acquired along parallel profiles covering six squares of 100 m × 100 m each. We have deliberately selected this magnetic map because it is not the top in terms of magnetic results and it provides staggers (due to data acquisition in 100 m grids) to show that if this algorithm works on this magnetic map, it will work defiantly on those where archaeological structures/anomalies are even more regulated. The tested scenes indicated accurate results, displaying positive‐ and negative‐valued magnetic anomalies with levels of detail almost similar to manually delineated anomalies. Our approach is simple to apply. Being implemented as a customized process for the eCognition® software, the tool attached to the article repository has a significant potential to support interpretation of any type of image obtained through geophysical measurements and we consider it an aid for large‐scale surveys.
Biochar reduces nutrient loss and improves microbial biomass of composted cattle manure and maize straw
Authors: Bello Ayodeji , Deng Liting , Sheng Siyuan , Jiang Xin , Yang Wei , Meng Qingxin , Wu Xiaotong , Han Yue , Zhu Haifeng , Xu Xiuhong
Published: November 2019

In this study, nutrient loss, the direct and indirect relationship between period, compost types, temperature, total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO3−‐N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+‐N), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) were investigated during composting of cattle manure–maize straw mixture. This study findings revealed that biochar addition lowered NH4+‐N but did not increase NO3−‐N concentrations unlike no biochar piles during composting. The first‐order kinetic models showed that biochar accelerated organic matter (OM) degradation and improved nitrogen mineralization, consequently reducing TN losses by 13.6% and OM losses by 12.66%. Transformation ratio of MBC/MBN, coupled with other chemical components of the entire microbial community, suggested a shift in the microbial succession and diversity during composting from the dominant bacteria and actinomycetes to fungi. The structural equation model and path coefficient revealed temperature to be the main factor mediating the evolution of MBC and MBN in composting. The physicochemical variables, phytotoxicity, and final product quality revealed that biochar incorporation to the composting feedstock is an ideal material for mitigating problems of TN and OM losses in composting and ultimately enhancing the fertility potential of the final compost product.
Anionic Amphiphilic Cyclodextrins Bearing Oleic Grafts for the Stabilization of Ruthenium Nanoparticles Efficient in Aqueous Catalytic Hydrogenation
Authors: Cocq Aurélien , Léger Bastien , Noël Sébastien , Bricout Hervé , Djedaïni‐Pilard Florence , Tilloy Sébastien , Monflier Eric
Published: November 2019

Oleic succinyl β‐cyclodextrin was proved to be efficient for the stabilization of ruthenium nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous medium. These NPs were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and transition electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic activity of these NPs was evaluated in the aqueous hydrogenation of petrosourced and biosourced unsaturated compounds such as benzene and furfural derivatives. The catalytic system can be easily recycled and reused up to nine runs without any loss of activity and selectivity, demonstrating its robustness.
Insights into the Low‐temperature Synthesis of LaCoO3 Derived from Co(CH3COO)2via Electrospinning for Catalytic Propane Oxidation
Authors: Zheng Yingbin , Feng Xiaoshan , Lin Daifeng , Wu Enhui , Luo Yongjin , You Yufeng , Huang Baoquan , Qian Qingrong , Chen Qinghua
Published: November 2019

Summary of main observation and conclusion

A series of electrospun LaCoO3 perovskites derived from CoX2 (X = CH3COO–, NO3–) were prepared and investigated for total propane oxidation. It is shown that pure rhombohedral perovskite LaCoO3 from Co(CH3COO)2 can be obtained at a relatively low temperature, 400 °C, benefitting from the complexation effect of CH3COO–. On the other hand, CH3COO– can accelerate the complete decomposition of polymer. The low‐temperature process can protect LaCoO3 nanoparticles from growing up. As a result, Co(CH3COO)2‐derived catalysts exhibit better propane oxidation activity than the ones suffered the same thermal treatment by using Co(NO3)2. XPS and H2‐TPR analysis provide that there is subtle change in Co3+/Co2+ on bulk/surface of Co(CH3COO)2‐derived catalysts prepared at different temperatures, giving rise to similar propane oxidation activities. Moreover, the result of cyclic stability test over 400 °C obtained catalyst shows little deactivation, demonstrating a good thermal stability. Our study can provide a feasible route for energy‐saving synthesis of LaCoO3 catalyst applied in the catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Contrasting effects of land‐use changes on herbivory and pollination networks
Authors: Shinohara Naoto , Uchida Kei , Yoshida Takehito
Published: November 2019

Land‐use changes, one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity, can cause underappreciated effects on ecosystems by altering the structures of interspecific interaction networks. These effects have typically been explored by evaluating interaction networks composed of a single type of interaction. Therefore, it remains unclear whether the different types of interaction networks sharing the same species respond to the same land‐use changes in a similar manner.

To compare the responses of herbivory and pollination networks to land‐use changes, we investigated both types of interaction networks in seminatural grasslands categorized into three types of agricultural land‐use (abandoned, extensively managed, and intensively managed) in a Japanese agricultural landscape. We quantified the structures of the interaction networks using several indices (connectance, evenness, diversity, generality, network specialization, and robustness) and compared them among different land‐use types. We conducted piecewise SEM to differentiate the direct and indirect effects of land‐use changes on the network structures.

Although both land‐use changes (abandonment and intensification) led to reduced plant and insect species richness, the structures of herbivory and pollination networks showed different responses to the land‐use changes. There was a marked contrast in network generality; while, herbivore species were less generalized (i.e., having fewer host plant species) in fields with land‐use intensification, pollinator species were less generalized in abandoned fields.

Furthermore, the mechanisms behind the changes in interaction networks were also different between pollination and herbivory networks. The change in herbivory network generality was induced by the decrease in plant species richness, whereas the change in pollination network generality was mainly induced by the effect independent of changes in species richness and composition, which possibly reflect the less number of flowers in shaded environment.

The present study demonstrates that agricultural land‐use changes affect herbivory and pollination networks in contrasting ways and suggests the importance of assessing multiple types of interaction networks for biodiversity conservation in plant–insect systems. Our results also highlight the underappreciated importance of maintaining habitats with an intermediate intensity of land‐use.
Optimization of process conditions for maximum metal recovery from spent zinc‐manganese batteries: Illustration of statistical based automated neural network approach
Authors: Ruhatiya Chaitanya , Shaosen Su , Wang Chin‐Tsan , Jishnu A. K. , Bhalerao Yogesh
Published: November 2019

Recovery of the vital metals from spent batteries using bioleaching is one of the commonly used method for recycling of spent batteries. In this study, a statistical based automated neural network approach is proposed for determination of optimum input parameters values in bioleaching of zinc‐manganese batteries. Experiments are performed to measure the recovery of zinc and manganese based on the input parameters such as energy substrates concentration, pH control of bioleaching media, incubating temperature, and pulp density. It was found that the proposed model based metal extraction models precisely estimated the yields of zinc and manganese with higher values of coefficient of determination of 0.94. Based on global sensitivity analysis, it was found that for the extraction of zinc, the most contributing parameters are pulp density and pH while for extraction of Mn the most contributing parameters are pulp density and incubating temperature. The optimum parameter values for maximum recovery of zinc and maximum recovery of manganese are determined using optimization method of simulated annealing. The optimum parameter values obtained for maximum recovery of Zn metal are as substrates concentration 32 g/L, pH 1.9 to 2.0, incubating temperature 30°C, pulp density 10%, and substrates concentration 32 g/L, pH 2.0, incubating temperature 35°C, pulp density 8% for maximum recovery of Mn.
Para‐aortic lymphadenectomy below inferior mesenteric artery versus renal vessels in stage IIIC epithelial ovarian cancer: A comparison of surgical outcomes
Authors: Zhu Chongyuan , Zhu Honglan , Wang Yue , Cui Heng , Li Yi
Published: November 2019

Objective

To compare the surgical outcomes of para‐aortic lymphadenectomy up to the level of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and renal vessels in women with stage IIIC epithelial ovarian cancer after primary optimal cytoreductive surgery.

Methods

In a retrospective study at Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China, undertaken between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2015, patients were classified into two groups based on the level of the para‐aortic lymphadenectomy at either IMA (group A) or renal vessels (group B). Progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival were assessed.

Results

The study involved 102 women (56 in group A and 46 in group B). The two groups were comparable regarding clinical characteristics, and there were no statistically significant differences in perioperative variables between the groups. 15.2% of patients (7/46) had metastases at renal vessels level without metastases below IMA. Median PFS in group B was longer than group A (41 months vs 23 months, P=0.041) and 5‐year survival rate was greater in group B compared to group A (74.6% vs 48.2%, P=0.003). Median overall survival was longer in group B compared to group A (not reached vs 55 months, P=0.03).

Conclusion

Para‐aortic lymphadenectomy at the level of renal vessels was safe and could improve the prognosis of patients with advanced ovarian cancer who completed optimal cytoreduction.
Synthesis of novel phthalazine derivatives as pharmacological activities
Authors: Wasfy Ashraf Farouq , Aly Aly A. , Behalo Mohamed S. , Mohamed Noura S.
Published: November 2019

Phthalazine derivatives attached to amino acid derivatives were synthesized with high yields. The reaction of phthalazine derivatives with different phthalyl and tosylamino acids such as glycine, alanine, phenylalanine, valine, serine, and threonine in the presence of N,N‐dicyclo hexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as a dehydrating agent reagent yielded high yields of the afforded compounds. Phthalylamino acids derivatives were obtained by deprotection of phthalazine derivatives, with the latter heating with hydrazine hydrate. The chemical structures of all phthalazine derivatives were affirmed by elemental analysis and spectral data (IR, MS, 1HNMR, and 13C NMR). Screening out and estimation of the synthesized derivatives for their cytotoxic and antioxidant activity were done, and most of them showed powerful activity in comparison with standard drugs.
Low‐resolution fiber‐optic Raman spectroscopy for bladder cancer diagnosis: A comparison study of varying laser power, integration time, and classification methods
Authors: Chen Hao , Li Xin , Broderick Neil G.R. , Xu Weiliang
Published: November 2019

In our previous work, we have demonstrated the great diagnostic potential of a low‐resolution Raman sensing system for bladder cancer through ex vivo experiments. Before forwarding this technique into clinical applications, the system's performance under different experimental conditions must be thoroughly understood. In this paper, a comparison study of this system under different experimental conditions and post‐experiment analysis methods is presented. The different experiment conditions includes two major parts: (a) varying the incident laser power at sample from 30 to 150 mW (30‐mW interval) with fixed integration time of 1 s; (b) varying integration time of 1 s, 2 s, 3 s, and 5 s, with a fixed incident laser power of 150 mW. A total number of 2,916 spectra were collected on 42 bladder tissue specimens under different experimental conditions. Three principal component analysis (PCA)‐based classification methods, including linear discriminant analysis (LDA), support vector machine (SVM), and artificial neural network (ANN), are used in this study for comparison. Results show that increasing the incident laser power has little influence on the overall prediction accuracy; increasing the integration time from 1 to 5 s has a clear improvement on the prediction accuracy; PCA–ANN outperforms PCA–LDA and PCA–SVM consistently under the parameter settings in this study.
Reporting of Clinical Trial Interventions Published in Leading Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Journals
Authors: Torgerson Trevor , Johnson Austin L. , Jellison Sam , Tanghetti Margo , Langley Jean‐Maria , Nguyen Lily H. P. , Vassar Matt
Published: November 2019

Objectives/Hypothesis

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) play a crucial role in advancing patient care within otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (OTL‐HNS), yet studies have shown the reporting of these trials needs improvement. Here, we evaluate the completeness of intervention reporting of RCTs in OTL‐HNS and evaluate whether the publication of the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist has influenced intervention reporting.

Study Design

Retrospective Cross‐Sectional Analysis.

Methods

We searched PubMed for RCTs published in top OTL‐HNS journals in two cohorts, one before the release of the TIDieR and one afterward. A sample of 300 RCTs was randomly selected and screened for inclusion. Once the dataset was finalized, we extracted trial characteristics and assessed each trial's adherence to the TIDieR checklist. We then used descriptive characteristics, a generalized estimated equation, time‐series analysis, and a two‐sample t test to analyze our data.

Results

After screening was completed, 173 RCTs were included in our analysis. Of these RCTs, 103 (59.5%) showed <60% adherence to the TIDieR checklist. We found a slight increase in adherence to TIDieR items after the checklist was released, although this was not statistically significant (P = .91). In addition, we found that trials with a crossover study design or multiple interventions and those that provided a Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials statement were associated with greater adherence to the TIDieR checklist.

Conclusions

The majority of OTL‐HNS RCTs included in our analysis showed suboptimal reporting factors related to the TIDieR checklist. Requiring a TIDieR statement and automating the journal requirements process for all OTL‐HNS clinical trials would be a worthwhile, efficient approach to improving research quality and ultimately patient care within OTL‐HNS.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 130:E507–E514, 2020
Patient values regarding overlapping surgery: Identification of distinct patient subgroups
Authors: Langerman Alexander , Arambula Alexandra , Bonnet Kemberlee , Schlundt David G. , Brelsford Kathleen M.
Published: November 2019

Objectives/Hypothesis

To explore patient values associated with their comfort level with surgical trainees and attending surgeon absence from the operating room.

Study Design

Qualitative interviews with general medical patients.

Methods

We analyzed data from qualitative interviews with patients that included a quantitative rating on a visual analog scale (VAS) of comfort consenting to three surgical scenarios, including overlapping surgery, to identify subgroups of patients based on comfort level. After identifying subgroups, we compared qualitative responses from participants who were generally comfortable with overlapping surgery to those who were uncomfortable to identify themes associated with these perceptions.

Results

We identified three subgroups of patients based on the patterns of VAS responses. Participants who were comfortable with overlapping surgery expressed trust in the surgeon and delegation process. Those who were most uncomfortable expressed a strong desire to know who was operating on them, and a desire for control over their surgical process. Subjects uncomfortable with overlapping surgery were also generally not sensitive to tradeoffs (cost, timing).

Conclusions

We identified distinct subgroups of patients based on their comfort level with trainee independence and primary attending availability. By examining the predominant values in these subgroups, we identified potential explanations for patient discomfort with attending absence. Strategies to enhance patients’ knowledge about the process of surgery and a sense of control over their own care may improve comfort with trainee participation and overlapping surgery.

Level of Evidence

6 Laryngoscope, 2019
Controlling the Periodically Ordered Nanostructures in Ceramics: A Macromolecule‐Guided Strategy
Authors: Guo Qing‐Yun , Zhang Bo‐xing , Feng Xueyan , Yan Xiao‐Yun , Su Zebin , Cheng Stephen Z. D. , Yue Kan
Published: November 2019

Microscopic structures have a significant influence on the properties of ceramics. The development of macromolecular self‐assembly has allowed for control over microscopic structures of ceramics to prepare ceramics with diverse compositions and ordered nanostructures. Herein, recent progress in the preparation of ceramics with periodically ordered nanostructures guided by phase‐separated macromolecules are reviewed, which can be summarized as a general strategy termed the “macromolecule‐guided strategy.” Moreover, two different subcategories, namely, the macromolecule‐templated method and the macromolecule‐precursor method, are illustrated. In the former method, amphiphilic macromolecules are used as templates to guide the assembly of inorganic species into ordered nanostructures, which are subsequently converted into ceramics; in the latter method, amphiphilic macromolecules containing non‐volatile elements are used as the single‐source precursors for ordered ceramics. It is believed that the unique diversity and tunable features of macromolecular self‐assembly might offer unprecedented opportunities in the development of functional ceramics for various applications.
Severity
Authors: Russo Joseph
Published: November 2019

This experimental ethnographic essay juxtaposes expository sections on the concept of severity as a “composition of life” with stories of a rural informant in Southeast Texas’ Piney Woods. The essay explores the notion of a flattened, generalized rurality that becomes specific in moments of storytelling, living through hardship, and finding oneself struggling to just keep going. It uses the specificity of story and regionality to show how the idea of severity, or form pushed to its limit, is experienced by an individual living out on the edge.
Amenity Migration Revisited
Authors: Özden‐Schilling Tom
Published: November 2019

The dismantling of government research throughout rural North America has altered the ways environmental scientists understand their ties to rural places like northwest British Columbia. As growing numbers of researchers have leveraged their professional mobility to move to small mountain towns and other rural locales—a process known as “amenity migration”—many have increasingly described their role in these transformations through idioms of personal commitment and individual expertise. At times, these articulations have overshadowed other migratory strategies enacted in response to the neoliberalization of resource extraction and environmental governance in the region, including those of First Nations technicians and blue collar workers in extractive industries. The kinds of jobs that draw experts to live and work in places like northwest British Columbia have shifted away from full‐time government positions into consulting and contract work. In the process, researchers’ growing tendency to present their movements as intentional processes has obscured the ways neoliberal reform redistributes compulsion and choice among residents of the new rural north.
Sanctuary‐Making as Rural Political Action
Authors: Abrell Elan
Published: November 2019

This essay compares different sanctuary‐making projects in North America, including animal sanctuaries and sanctuary communities for undocumented immigrants, to examine how they may contribute to better rural futures. Specifically, it argues that sanctuary as a simultaneously spatial and ideological mode of being could provide the basis for a broader counterhegemonic challenge to violent practices of exploitation targeted at a range of different others.
Depletion
Authors: Bessire Lucas
Published: November 2019

This essay introduces the problematic of groundwater depletion and aquifer ethnography on the US High Plains, home to five generations of the author's family, in order to reflect more broadly on the following questions: What would it mean to take responsibility for our roles in the political present? How might rurality orient a search for nonnormative commons within the contemporary? What kind of commensurabilities could enable a more effective critical engagement with proliferating experiences of extraction, disregard, and uncertainty? And how might ethnography contribute to a future beyond depletion?
Metal‐Decorated Pickering Emulsion for Continuous Flow Catalysis
Authors: Peng Fangjun , Xu Jie , Zeng Xianghui , Feng Guiping , Bao Haifeng
Published: November 2019

Continuous flow catalysis is favored for large‐scale chemical synthesis due to its time‐saving, energy‐saving, and cost‐efficient characters. Herein, Pickering emulsions are demonstrated to be effective carriers for immobilizing metal nanocatalysts in continuous flow catalysis. A series of metal nanoparticles (Pd, Au, and Pt) are coated on emulsion droplets via a facile aldehyde‐induced reduction method. Meanwhile, Pickering emulsion can be formed by using aldehyde cellulose nanofibers (ACNFs) with different dimensions that come from eucalyptus wood, cotton, and bacteria cellulose. These ACNFs can be entangled together to generate an interfacial layer for locking in emulsion droplets and providing reactive sites for in situ growth of metal nanocatalysts. In Pd‐anchored emulsion, the continuously catalytic reduction of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP), methylene blue, and methyl orange can proceed effectively for 55, 23, and 50 h with the conversion efficiencies at nearly 100%, >98%, >99%, respectively. In addition, Au‐ and Pt‐deposited emulsions are also operable in continuous flow catalysis as demonstrated by catalytic reduction of 4‐NP. Au‐decorated emulsion ensures the proceeding of catalytic reduction for 45 h with the conversion efficiency of >98% while Pt‐immobilized emulsion allows for the reduction of 4‐NP for 50 h at a conversion efficiency of >99%.
Species differences in ocular pharmacokinetics and pharmacological activities of regorafenib and pazopanib eye‐drops among rats, rabbits and monkeys
Authors: Horita Shinya , Watanabe Miwa , Katagiri Mai , Nakamura Hiroaki , Haniuda Hiroki , Nakazato Tomoyuki , Kagawa Yoshiyuki
Published: November 2019

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision impairment in patients over the age of 60 years. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is the hallmark of neovascular AMD and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a causal role in the formation of CNV. Although regorafenib and pazopanib, small molecule VEGF receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors, were developed as eye‐drops, their efficacies were insufficient in clinical. In this study, we evaluated ocular pharmacokinetics and pharmacological activities of regorafenib and pazopanib after ocular instillation in multiple animal species. In rats, both regorafenib and pazopanib showed high enough concentrations in the posterior eye tissues to inhibit VEGFR. In laser‐induced rat CNV model, regorafenib showed clear reduction in CNV area. On the other hand, the concentrations of regorafenib and pazopanib in the posterior eye tissues were much lower after ocular instillation in rabbits and monkeys compared to those in rats. Pazopanib did not show any improvement in monkey model. Regorafenib was nano‐crystalized to improve its drug delivery to the posterior eye tissues. The nano‐crystalized formulation of regorafenib showed higher concentrations in the posterior segments in rabbits compared to its microcrystal suspension. From these studies, large interspecies differences were found in ocular delivery to the posterior segments after ocular instillation. Such large interspecies difference could be the reason for the insufficient efficacies of regorafenib and pazopanib in clinical studies. Nano‐crystallization was suggested to be one of the effective ways to overcome this issue.
On the probabilistic skill of dual‐resolution ensemble forecasts
Authors: Leutbecher Martin , Ben Bouallègue Zied
Published: November 2019

Increasing spatial resolution and increasing ensemble size both tend to improve the skill of ensemble forecasts. Due to computational constraints, a balance needs to be found in operational NWP. Here, we examine a scenario where ensembles are formed by pooling lower‐resolution and higher‐resolution members such that the overall computational cost is equal to the constraint. The approach is applied to medium‐range weather forecasts with ECMWF's Integrated Forecasting System using horizontal resolutions of 18, 29 and 45 km and ensemble sizes ranging from 8 to 254 members. The methodology is similar to the multi‐level Monte‐Carlo approach but does not use stochastic perturbations that are shared between members at different levels. Probabilistic skill is quantified for 850 hPa temperature verified against analyses and 2 m temperature verified against station observations. Generally, dual‐resolution ensembles with similar numbers of lower and higher‐resolution members provide the optimal configuration for 2 m temperature prediction. In contrast, single‐resolution ensembles appear to be the most skilful for 850 hPa temperature. The dual‐resolution ensembles are a special kind of multi‐model ensemble. An analytic model describing the skill of such a multi‐model ensemble is developed and its parameters are estimated from the actual verification statistics. The model is capable of describing the general differences in behaviour between 2 m temperature and 850 hPa temperature.
Exploiting gene‐environment independence in haplotype‐based inferences for population‐based case‐control studies with complex sampling
Authors: Wang Lingxiao , Lin Daoying , Li Yan
Published: November 2019

The use of complex sampling in population‐based case‐control studies is becoming more common. Although most single nucleotide polymorphism‐based association studies with complex sampling account for the design complications, many of haplotype‐based genetic association studies with complex sampling tend to ignore them when estimating haplotype frequencies, regression coefficients, or both. In this article, we develop innovative one‐step and two‐step statistical methods that account for the design complications in haplotype‐based association studies when cases and/or controls are sampled with complex sampling. Attracted by the efficiency advantage of the retrospective method, we explore the assumptions of Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium and gene‐environment independence in the underlying population. Results of our simulation studies demonstrate superior performance of the proposed methods over selected existing methods under various complex sampling designs. An application of the proposed methods is illustrated using a population‐based case‐control study of kidney cancer.
Numerical parametric investigation on the temperature distribution in Ar/O2 induction thermal plasmas with Ti powder injection: Inclusion of particle evaporation
Authors: Siregar Yulianta , Tanaka Yasunori , Uesugi Yoshihiko , Ishijima Tatsuo
Published: November 2019

Thermal interaction between titanium feedstock powder and the thermal plasma is calculated using the developed numerical model for an inductively coupled thermal plasma (ICTP) with particle injection. The interaction between titanium powder and thermal plasmas is very important for the stable establishment of the ICTP and effective heating and evaporation of the injected particles, for example, for particle synthesis. The injected particles are heated by the thermal plasma and they melt and evaporate, contaminating the plasma and thus affecting its properties. The developed numerical model solves the mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations of thermal plasmas as well as the mass transport equation for the evaporated materials. In addition, particle motions are derived by solving the Lagrange equation of motion. The temperature distribution inside the particles and the phase transition from solid, through liquid, to gas of the particles are also taken into account. Finally, a parametric study is conducted to show the influence of the important physical parameters such as input power, sheath gas flow rate, and Ti powder feed rate. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.