bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations Between Left Ventricular Structure, Function, and Cerebral Amyloid
Authors: Johansen Michelle C. , Mosley Thomas H. , Knopman David S. , Wong Dean F. , Wagenknecht Lynne E. , Shah Amil M. , Solomon Scott D. , Gottesman Rebecca F.
Published: October 2019

Background and Purpose—

Cardiovascular disease is a known risk factor for cognitive decline, although the mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesize that Aβ (β-amyloid), a core pathology of Alzheimer's disease, will be associated with subclinical cardiac structure and function echocardiogram indices.

Methods—

Three hundred six nondemented participants from the ARIC study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study) underwent florbetapir positron emission tomography and 2D echocardiography (echo). Cross-sectional associations between echo markers of left ventricular structure and function and global cortical Aβ (≥1.2 standardized uptake value ratio were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression with interaction terms when appropriate.

Results—

Participants ranged in age from 67 to 88 years, were 57% female and 42% black. Per 1 cm increase in end-diastolic left ventricular diameter, the odds of elevated florbetapir standardized uptake value ratio doubled (odds ratio, 2.04 [95% CI, 1.10–3.77]), with similar findings when excluding mild cognitive impairment (odds ratio, 2.61 [95% CI, 1.22–5.59]).

Conclusions—

We have demonstrated a significant association between a marker of left ventricular structure and elevated florbetapir standardized uptake value ratio, identified using positron emission tomography. Ongoing prospective work will help determine if changes in cardiac structure and function either precede, or occur simultaneously with deposition of amyloid.
Reform and Stability – The Russian and the Chinese Welfare Systems Compared
Authors: Kainu Markus , Kivinen Markku , Kuhnle Stein , Li Chunling
Published: October 2019

Systematic theoretical work on Russian and Chinese social policy seems to be lacking. While previous research establishes how democratic systems produce welfare, it is unclear what kind of welfare such transitional systems provide. Our analysis adheres to structuration based theoretical explanations, taking into account both agency and structure as factors needed to explain these regimes’ welfare policy. Hybrid regimes are eager to adopt global liberally oriented welfare policies, which tend to ignore popular demands. Western analysis of Russian and Chinese social policy emphasizes the dualistic influence of liberal versus statist social policy. This dualistic conceptualization fails to take into account the contradictions between ideological frames and hybrid regimes’ vulnerability to popular pressures. Widespread corruption undermines formal procedures and underlies growth of informal practices. Both Russia and China have considerable welfare achievements and vast problems. In conditions of economic growth, both have experienced huge increases in inequality and individualization of risk.
Seed morphology in the genus Fritillaria (Liliaceae) from Greece and its taxonomic significance

Authors: SAMAROPOULOU SOFIA , BAREKA PEPY , BOURANIS DIMITRIS L. , KAMARI GEORGIA
Published: October 2019

The genus Fritillaria is represented in Greece by 31 taxa, more than a half of which are endemic to the country. This is the first report studying the seed morphology of this genus in Greece, in an attempt to prove its taxonomic importance. Seeds from 59 Greek populations, representing 25 taxa have been studied concerning 11 morphological parameters. All examined taxa have numerous seeds per capsule that are flat and characterised by the presence of a peripheral wing. Their shape is ovate to widely ovate-triangular, with the exception of F. epirotica which is more hemispherical. The smallest seeds of all studied taxa belong to F. montana. The morphometric data, along with the multivariate analysis (PCA) and paired t-tests, can lead to interesting conclusions concerning the taxonomic relationships among several taxa. For example, taxa currently considered as synonyms, like F. sporadum within F. ehrhartii and F. theophrastii within F. pontica are found statistically different concerning seed morphology. On the other hand, taxonomically well distinct taxa, such as F. ionica subsp. thessala, F. graeca, and F. messanensis subsp. gracilis, share similar seed morphology. Finally, the two—very similar—subspecies of Fritillaria obliqua share the same seed features, rising again questions upon their taxonomic distinctiveness.
Taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of Thyrostroma ephedricola sp. nov. (Dothidotthiaceae) and proposal for Thyrostroma jaczewskii comb. nov.

Authors: PEM DHANDEVI , JEEWON RAJESH , BULGAKOV TIMUR , GAFFOROV YUSUFJON , HONGSANAN SINANG , PHOOKAMSAK RUNGTIWA , XU JIAN-CHU , PROMPUTTHA ITTHAYAKORN , DOILOM MINGKWAN , HYDE KEVIN D.
Published: October 2019

Thyrostroma ephedricola, isolated from Ephedra equisetina from Uzbekistan is introduced as a new species and a new combination, Thyrostroma jaczewskii (B. Sutton) is proposed. Both species are characterised by sporodochial, punctiform conidiomata, and brown cylindrical to subcylindrical, 1–3-septate conidiophores, cylindrical, clavate, or ellipsoid to pyriform brown conidia. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on analyses of ribosomal DNA (ITS, LSU and SSU regions) of Thyrostroma species, strongly supports the recognized taxa as a monophyletic group. The introduction of the new species is supported by both morphological and molecular data.
The taxonomic resurrection of Muscari haradjianii (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), and a new synonym in the genus Muscari in Turkey

Authors: EROĞLU HÜSEYİN , PINAR SÜLEYMAN MESUT
Published: October 2019

The taxonomical status of Muscari haradjianii from Turkey was reevaluated in this study. We provide here a detailed morphological description, including pollen and seed features, distribution range, and chromosome number. There has been frequent confusion regarding the differences between M. haradjianii and its congeners M. longipes and M. tenuiflorum. Here, we clarify the differences among these species. In addition, it was determined that M. ufukii is a synonym for M. haradjianii.
Perceptions of Hurricane-Track Forecasts in the United States
Authors: Senkbeil Jason , Reed Jacob , Collins Jennifer , Brothers Kimberly , Saunders Michelle , Skeeter Walker , Cerrito Emily , Chakraborty Saurav , Polen Amy
Published: October 2019

Hurricanes Isaac (2012), Harvey (2017), and Irma (2017) were storms with different geophysical characteristics and track forecast consistencies. Despite the differences, common themes emerged from the perception of track forecasts from evacuees for each storm. Surveys with a mixture of closed and open-ended responses were conducted during the evacuations of each storm while the storm characteristics and decision-making were fresh in the minds of evacuees. Track perception accuracy for each evacuee was quantified by taking the difference between three metrics: perceived track and official track (PT − OT), perceived track and forecast track (PT − FT), and home location and perceived track (HL − PT). Evacuees from Hurricanes Isaac and Harvey displayed a tendency to perceive hurricane tracks as being closer to their home locations than what was forecast to occur and what actually occurred. The large sample collected for Hurricane Irma provided a chance to statistically verify some of the hypotheses generated from Isaac and Harvey. Results from Hurricane Irma confirmed that evacuees expected a storm to be closer to their home locations after controlling for regional influences. Furthermore, participants with greater previous hurricane experience perceived a track as being closer to their home locations, and participants residing in zip codes corresponding with nonmandatory evacuation zones also perceived tracks as being closer to their home locations. These findings suggest that most evacuees from hurricanes in the United States appear to perceive storms as being closer to their home locations than they are and overestimate wind speeds at their homes, thus overestimating the true danger from landfalling hurricanes in many storms.
Gynaecomastia caused by a feminizing adrenal tumour
Authors: Gibbons Stephen M , Jassam Nuthar , Abbas Afroze , Stuart Kevin , Fairhurst April , Barth Julian H
Published: October 2019

Gynaecomastia is a common finding which typically appears during puberty in boys and in elderly males. At these times, gynaecomastia is likely to be due to physiological hormonal fluctuations, although there are a number of other causes including medications which must also be considered. We present a case of a 52-year-old male with gynaecomastia, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and hyperoestrogenaemia. MRI of the adrenals confirmed the presence of an adrenocortical carcinoma, which after preoperative hormone workup was diagnosed as a feminizing adrenal tumour. The lesion was excised, and adjunct Mitotane therapy was commenced. Hyperoestrogenaemia is often secondary to exogenous testosterone administration; however, in the presence of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, other sources of oestrogen should be sought. This case highlights a rare, but nonetheless important cause of gynaecomastia.
Acute Noncalculous Cholecystitis in a Three-Year-Old Child: Report of a Case Diagnosed at Operation
Authors: Hopkins James W. , Lynn Hugh B. , Dower John C.
Published: October 2019

Several generalizations emerge from these studies and are illustrated by our three-year-old patient. Cholecystitis in childhood is “very uncommon, probably rare,” and, “Certainly choledocholithiasis is rare” (Ulin14).

An acute systemic disease is often a forerunner of acute cholecystitis in children and may be causally related in some cases; it may obscure the diagnosis. Systemic symptoms accompanying localized abdominal findings should strengthen the suspicion of acute cholecystitis.

Abdominal pain and guarding and evidence of a mass are the keys to the diagnosis. The pain patterns of radiating colic and gastro-intestinal upset of the adult are not often seen in childhood. The etiology of acute noncalculous type of cholecystitis is not known. Acute symptoms of short duration and bacterial and polymorphonuclear infiltration of the wall of the gallbladder tend to distinguish childhood cholecystitis from its adult counterpart clinically and pathologically. Stones, when present, are often of hemolytic origin and occur more frequently in older children.

An important difference in the surgical management of affected children as compared with adults is that jaundice alone, or stones in the gallbladder, usually do not demand exploration of the common duct. Cholecystectomy, when not contraindicated by severe associated illness, appears to be the treatment of choice.
Staphylococcal Pneumonia and Its Complications: A Surgical Emergency in Infants and Children
Authors: Minor Charles L. , Moschakis Elias A.
Published: October 2019

The records of 50 patients treated at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for staphylococcal pneumonia and its complications have been reviewed. Nine of these patients died despite vigorous treatment. This is a highly fatal disease, especially in the very young. It must be treated as a true surgical emergency. A plan of treatment is discussed.
Cognitive Training: Transfer Beyond the Laboratory?
Authors: Lintern Gavan , Boot Walter R.
Published: October 2019

Objective

To assess the evidence of general transfer from training on abstract computer-based exercises and video games to driving and flight control.

Background

Many believe that training on abstract computer-based exercises and video games enhances cognitive capacities to the benefit of performance in operational contexts. The basic research in this area is controversial.

Method

We summarize reviews of the basic research data on transfer from training on abstract computer-based exercises and video games and undertake a detailed methodological review of flight and driving transfer studies.

Results

Reviews of basic transfer research fail to reveal evidence of general transfer, although a few applied studies are said to show general transfer to driving or flight control. Our review of these applied studies identifies issues with research methods and data interpretation that compromise the credibility of their results to an extent that they do not provide robust evidence of general transfer from abstract computer-based exercises or video games.

Conclusion

The state of cognitive training and video game training in relation to transfer has failed to meet early expectations. Much of the research in this area suffers from inadequate experimental control and flawed interpretation of results. We call for adherence to robust experimental design, critical evaluation of data patterns, and replication of keystone results. We also call for a theoretically grounded research effort, and we outline relevant theoretical conceptions of transfer.

Application

A robust theory of transfer and better understanding of transfer effects can guide development of principles for design and use of training simulators.
Black and White Differences in Life Expectancy in 4 US States, 1969-2013
Authors: Kaufman Jay S. , Riddell Corinne A. , Harper Sam
Published: October 2019

Objectives:

Racial differences in mortality in the United States have narrowed and vary by time and place. The objectives of our study were to (1) examine the gap in life expectancy between white and black persons (hereinafter, racial gap in life expectancy) in 4 states (California, Georgia, Illinois, and New York) and (2) estimate trends in the contribution of major causes of death (CODs) to the racial gap in life expectancy by age group.

Methods:

We extracted data on the number of deaths and population sizes for 1969-2013 by state, sex, race, age group, and 6 major CODs. We used a Bayesian time-series model to smooth and impute mortality rates and decomposition methods to estimate trends in sex- and age-specific contributions of CODs to the racial gap in life expectancy.

Results:

The racial gap in life expectancy at birth decreased in all 4 states, especially among men in New York (from 8.8 to 1.1 years) and women in Georgia (from 8.0 to 1.7 years). Although few deaths occurred among persons aged 1-39, racial differences in mortality at these ages (mostly from injuries and infant mortality) contributed to the racial gap in life expectancy, especially among men in California (1.0 year of the 4.3-year difference in 2013) and Illinois (1.9 years of the 6.7-year difference in 2013). Cardiovascular deaths contributed most to the racial gap in life expectancy for adults aged 40-64, but contributions decreased among women aged 40-64, especially in Georgia (from 2.8 to 0.5 years). The contribution of cancer deaths to inequality increased in California and Illinois, whereas New York had the greatest reductions in inequality attributable to cancer deaths (from 0.6 to 0.2 years among men and from 0.2 to 0 years among women).

Conclusions:

Future research should identify policy innovations and economic changes at the state level to better understand New York’s success, which may help other states emulate its performance.
The Check and Report Ebola (CARE+) Program to Monitor Travelers for Ebola After Arrival to the United States, 2014-2016
Authors: Joseph Heather A. , Wojno Abbey E. , Winter Kelly , Grady-Erickson Onalee , Hawes Erin , Benenson Gabrielle A. , Lee Amanda , Cetron Martin
Published: October 2019

The 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa influenced how public health officials considered migration and emerging infectious diseases. Responding to the public’s concerns, the US government introduced enhanced entry screening and post-arrival monitoring by public health authorities to reduce the risk of importation and domestic transmission of Ebola while continuing to allow travel from West Africa. This case study describes a new initiative, the Check and Report Ebola (CARE+) program that engaged travelers arriving to the United States from countries with Ebola outbreaks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employed CARE ambassadors, who quickly communicated with incoming travelers and gave them practical resources to boost their participation in monitoring for Ebola. The program aimed to increase travelers’ knowledge of Ebola symptoms and how to seek medical care safely, increase travelers’ awareness of monitoring requirements, reduce barriers to monitoring, and increase trust in the US public health system. This program could be adapted for use in future outbreaks that involve the potential importation of disease and require the education and active engagement of travelers to participate in post-arrival monitoring.
Dynamic characteristic analysis and startup optimization design of an intermediate drive belt conveyor with non-uniform load
Authors: Feng Yu , Zhang Miaotian , Li Guoping , Meng Guoying
Published: October 2019

As an important transportation equipment, belt conveyor plays an important role in underground coal mine production and is an indispensable component. In this article, taking the intermediate drive belt conveyor of Shanxi Tongmei Group Tongxin Mine as an example, the continuous dynamic method is adopted to comprehensively consider the non-uniform load distribution of the belt conveyor, and mathematical modeling of the intermediate drive belt conveyor is performed. The dynamic characteristics of the conveyor belt are analyzed. The MATLAB software is used to analyze the change of the conveyor belt tension under different starting accelerations. Based on the analysis results, the starting acceleration is optimized, and the new combined parabolic acceleration curve presented here is more suitable for the actual working condition of the belt conveyor. In this article, the startup timing of the head and middle motors of the belt conveyor is also discussed in depth. The start timing design of the belt conveyor is described, which provides a reference for the design of the belt conveyor with an intermediate drive.
A Besieged Boom
Authors: Brandner Tobias
Published: October 2019

This article offers a short portrait of Christianity in China with a focus on core factors in its recent growth. It interprets the recent repression against Christianity and religion overall as the ruling party’s reaction to groups successfully offering alternative values and alternative communal life, thus threatening the party’s monopolized claim of representing the people.
‘Entamoeba histolytica’ identified by stool microscopy from children with acute diarrhoea in Peru is not E. histolytica
Authors: Quispe-Rodríguez Gabriel H , Wankewicz Alyssa A , Luis Málaga Granda José , Lewis Ben , Stockert Kassi , Clinton White A
Published: October 2019

Entamoeba histolytica is a rare but feared pathogen owing to its related morbidity and mortality. Physicians in an ambulatory clinic in Cusco noted frequent reports of E. histolytica diagnosed by microscopy. Other non-pathogenic species of Entamoeba have an identical microscopic appearance. To determine whether the organisms were actually E. histolytica, faecal specimens from children aged six months to three years with diarrhoea were tested by a species-specific ELISA for E. histolytica antigen. Although 19/73 patients (26.0%) were presumptively diagnosed with amoebiasis based on microscopy, none were confirmed by ELISA. Most cases diagnosed as E. histolytic by microscopy in Peru are not infected by the pathogenic species and are probably colonised by non-pathogenic amoeba such as Entamoeba dispar.
Randomized Comparative Study of Microwave Ablation and Electrocautery for Control of Recurrent Epistaxis
Authors: Lou Zheng-Cai , Jin Kan-Feng
Published: October 2019

Objective:

To compare the outcomes of adult patients with recurrent epistaxis treated intraoperatively with either bipolar electrocautery or microwave ablation (MWA).

Study Design:

Prospective randomized control study.

Materials and Methods:

One hundred ten patients with idiopathic recurrent epistaxis who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned into MWA group and bipolar electrocautery group. Primary outcomes were the proportion of patients in each group whose bleeding had stopped within 24 hours after treatment and time to achieve successful hemostasis. Secondary outcomes were the rebleeding rate after 3 days, 1 and 12 weeks, and 6 months and complications.

Results:

Successful immediate arrest of epistaxis was achieved in all patients. The times to achieve successful hemostasis were 2.13 ± 1.04 minutes in the MWA group and 6.60 ± 2.68 minutes in the bipolar electrocautery group ( P = .000). The rates of recurrent bleeding were similar in patients treated with the different approaches ( P = .231). However, secondary crusting was observed endoscopically in 59 patients in the bipolar electrocautery group, while pseudomembrane of the ablation zone was seen in 19 (36.5%) patients in the MWA group. Nevertheless, there were no severe postoperative complications, including septal perforation and orbit and brain complications, in either group at the 6-month follow-up.

Conclusion:

Bipolar electrocautery and MWA had similar outcomes for the treatment of adult patients with recurrent epistaxis. However, MWA resulted in rapid hemostasis with less local nasal pain and less crust. Thus, MWA could be a favorable treatment option for patients with idiopathic recurrent epistaxis.
Comparison of the Effects of 2 Surgical Techniques Used in the Treatment of Concha Bullosa on Olfactory Functions
Authors: Akkoca Özlem , Tüzüner Arzu , Ünlü Ceren Ersöz , Şimşek Gökçe , Kaytez Selda Kargın , Uğurlu Gülay Aktar
Published: October 2019

Introduction:

Concha bullosa (CB), which is pneumatization of the concha, is one of the most commonly seen anatomic variations of the lateral nasal wall.

Objective:

To investigate the effects on olfactory function of lateral turbinectomy and crushing methods used in the surgical treatment of CB.

Methods:

The study included a total of 47 patients operated on for a diagnosis of CB and nasal septum deviation. The patients comprised 22 females and 25 males, with bilateral CB in 18 cases and unilateral in 29 cases. Intervention was made to a total of 65 CB. The cases were separated as those applied with septoplasty and lateral turbinectomy in group 1 (n = 34) and those applied with the septoplasty and crushing method in group 2 (n = 31). The olfactory function of the patients was evaluated preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively with the Brief Smell Identification Test.

Results:

A statistically significant increase was determined in the postoperative smell test results compared with the preoperative values in both group 1 ( P = .021) and group 2 ( P = .001). When the change in the smell test results from preoperative to postoperative was compared between the groups, the increase in group 2 was determined to be statistically significantly greater ( P = .002).

Conclusion:

The results of this study showed that the crushing method in surgical treatment of CB increased olfactory functions more than the lateral resection method, and as the improvement in olfactory functions was greater, this demonstrated that only increasing the nasal cavity is not sufficient and the nasal mucosa should be protected as far as possible.
Do Publics Share Experts’ Concerns about Brain–Computer Interfaces? A Trinational Survey on the Ethics of Neural Technology
Authors: Sample Matthew , Sattler Sebastian , Blain-Moraes Stefanie , Rodríguez-Arias David , Racine Eric
Published: October 2019

Since the 1960s, scientists, engineers, and healthcare professionals have developed brain–computer interface (BCI) technologies, connecting the user’s brain activity to communication or motor devices. This new technology has also captured the imagination of publics, industry, and ethicists. Academic ethics has highlighted the ethical challenges of BCIs, although these conclusions often rely on speculative or conceptual methods rather than empirical evidence or public engagement. From a social science or empirical ethics perspective, this tendency could be considered problematic and even technocratic because of its disconnect from publics. In response, our trinational survey (Germany, Canada, and Spain) reports public attitudes toward BCIs ( N = 1,403) on ethical issues that were carefully derived from academic ethics literature. The results show moderately high levels of concern toward agent-related issues (e.g., changing the user’s self) and consequence-related issues (e.g., new forms of hacking). Both facets of concern were higher among respondents who reported as female or as religious, while education, age, own and peer disability, and country of residence were associated with either agent-related or consequence-related concerns. These findings provide a first look at BCI attitudes across three national contexts, suggesting that the language and content of academic BCI ethics may resonate with some publics and their values.
Histology Atlas of the Developing Mouse Urinary System With Emphasis on Prenatal Days E10.5-E18.5
Authors: Elmore Susan A. , Kavari Sanam L. , Hoenerhoff Mark J. , Mahler Beth , Scott Brittany E. , Yabe Koichi , Seely John C.
Published: October 2019

Congenital abnormalities of the urinary tract are some of the most common human developmental abnormalities. Several genetically engineered mouse models have been developed to mimic these abnormalities and aim to better understand the molecular mechanisms of disease. This atlas has been developed as an aid to pathologists and other biomedical scientists for identification of abnormalities in the developing murine urinary tract by cataloguing normal structures at each stage of development. Hematoxylin and eosin- and immunohistochemical-stained sections are provided, with a focus on E10.5-E18.5, as well as a brief discussion of postnatal events in urinary tract development. A section on abnormalities in the development of the urinary tract is also provided, and molecular mechanisms are presented as supplementary material. Additionally, overviews of the 2 key processes of kidney development, branching morphogenesis and nephrogenesis, are provided to aid in the understanding of the complex organogenesis of the kidney. One of the key findings of this atlas is the histological identification of the ureteric bud at E10.5, as previous literature has provided conflicting reports on the initial point of budding. Furthermore, attention is paid to points where murine development is significantly distinct from human development, namely, in the cessation of nephrogenesis.
Factors Associated With Underestimation of Weight Among Adults Living in Puerto Rico
Authors: Amaro-Rivera Kiara , Carbone Elena T.
Published: October 2019

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the associations between underestimation of weight and sociodemographic, health, and dietary factors among adults living in a rural community in Puerto Rico. For data collection, a researcher-designed questionnaire was distributed to each household in the area. A multivariable logistic regression was conducted for data analysis. Results revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 34.4% and 38.7%, respectively. A total of 53.4% of the participants underestimated their weight, most of whom were either overweight or obese. Weight underestimation was associated with being male, age ≥35 years, living below the poverty level estimate, perceiving diet quality as excellent/very good, and consuming fast food ≥1 times/week. In conclusion, overweight/obesity rates were high in this sample, and underestimation of weight was common among people with higher body mass index levels. Future public health interventions targeting obesity in this population should consider self-perception of body weight.
Linking spatial differentiation with sustainability management: Academic contributions and research directions of physical geography in China
Authors: Peng Jian , Hu Yi’na , Dong Jianquan , Mao Qi , Liu Yanxu , Du Yueyue , Wu Jiansheng , Wang Yanglin
Published: October 2019

Physical geography focuses on the Earth surface system and is dedicated to revealing how people affect the environment and how the environment reacts to people. Based on its characteristic spatial cognitive perspective, the inductive–deductive combined approach, and the comprehensive research paradigm that integrates multiple elements, processes, and scales, physical geography always provides an important scientific basis for understanding human–nature interactions and solving sustainable development issues in different eras. Putting theory into practice, physical geography plays a pivotal role in realizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals and China’s goal of ecological civilization. At present, China is in a stage of rapid socio-economic development and global conditions are changing more quickly than ever. Based on its disciplinary characteristics and traditional advantages, physical geography in China should always develop around social needs and play an increasing role in resource- and environment-related policies and outreach. Future development of physical geography as a discipline in China is expected, taking spatial cognition as the basic perspective and human–nature interaction as the core content, along with the combination of deductive and inductive approaches and the strengthening of interregional integration, all under the goal of sustainability. Considering the shared environmental challenges and the complexity of interconnections between countries in the context of globalization, the academic exploration and practice of physical geography in China have been providing scientific support for the sustainable development of China and beyond.
Knowledge management practice in South Asian higher education institutions
Authors: Kanwal Saima , Nunes Miguel Baptista , Arif Muhammad
Published: October 2019

The investigation reported in this paper intended to explore the research on knowledge management in higher educational institutions in South Asian countries. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify, select and retrieve relevant scholarly literature, by following a detailed protocol and a systematic data extraction strategy. The findings of the study showed that limited research on knowledge management in the context of higher educational institutions was conducted in both theoretical aspects and practical implementations, denoting an imperative to conduct more research in this area. The findings also disclosed that multiple factors affect the knowledge management practices among primary higher educational institution agents: faculty, administrative staff, and information professionals. As the result of the analysis of the literature review findings, a conceptual framework is proposed, which is expected to provide a good foundation for future research as well as pave the way towards more successful knowledge management implementations in the higher educational institutions in South Asia and beyond.
“Who We Are, and Why We Do It”: A Demographic Overview and the Cited Motivations of Australia’s Family Historians
Authors: Shaw Emma
Published: October 2019

The multibillion-dollar family history industry is booming in popularity as millions of people around the world are seeking to connect with their ancestral pasts. This article presents some of the findings of a recent Australian study that explored the research practices and historical thinking of family historians. The data presented and discussed here are drawn from 1,406 survey responses and present a demographic and social overview of the survey respondents. It categorizes the cited motivations of family historians in Australia for commencing their familial research, which are much more intrinsic and personal than other studies in this field suggest.
Mi Casa no es Su Casa: The Fight for Equitable Transit-Oriented Development in an Inner-Ring Suburb
Authors: Lung-Amam Willow , Pendall Rolf , Knaap Elijah
Published: October 2019

Transit-oriented development (TOD) often raises land values and can promote gentrification and the displacement in low-income communities. Little research, however, has shown how communities have organized to fight for more equitable TOD processes and outcomes within particular metropolitan contexts and dynamics of neighborhood change. This case study examines the role of neighborhood-based advocacy and organizing in fighting for equitable TOD and tackling key political and planning challenges in a predominantly Latinx immigrant inner-ring suburb. Their successes show the strengths of community-based, cross-sector coalitions in generating more equitable and inclusive TOD processes, plans, and policies that target conditions of place-based precarity.
Understanding the Role of Cultural Orientations in the Formation of Entrepreneurial Intentions in Iran
Authors: Karimi Saeid , Biemans Harm J. A. , Lans Thomas , Mulder Martin
Published: October 2019

The purpose of the present study was to examine how cultural orientations influence students’ entrepreneurial motivations and intentions in a developing country, namely Iran. Two cultural orientations, namely independent and interdependent self-construal, were incorporated into a model of entrepreneurial intention that draws upon the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and self-construal theory. In total, 290 final year undergraduate agricultural students from four public Iranian universities participated in the study. Questionnaire data were gathered. Using the partial least squares structural equation model, independent self-construal significantly and directly related to entrepreneurial intentions. Interdependent self-construal positively related to subjective norms, and independent self-construal positively related to perceived behavioral control. Both independent and interdependent self-construal helped explain the attitudes of individuals toward entrepreneurship with interdependent self-construal playing a greater role. The present results and their implications can help both policy makers and educators develop effective strategies for promoting entrepreneurship.
Factors Contributing to Korean Employees’ Job Satisfaction: A Multilevel Study
Authors: Kim Jhong Yun (Joy) , Keane Andrew
Published: October 2019

In this study, we examined the contributing factors to the job satisfaction of employees in Korean organizations. We utilized hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), in conjunction with data collected from the Seventh Human Capital Corporate Panel survey conducted by the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor, to investigate antecedents of job satisfaction at the individual and organizational levels and across these levels. At the individual level, variables were divided into demographic and psychological factors. At the organizational level, variables were divided into administration factors and factors related to human resources. Results suggest that 86% of job satisfaction can be attributed to individual-level variables and 14% is due to organization-level variables. The individual-level psychological factors explain around 46% of the variance in job satisfaction, whereas demographic factors explain only 4% at the individual level. Organizational-level factors account for almost 35% of the variance related to job satisfaction between companies.
Children’s protest in relation to the climate emergency: A qualitative study on a new form of resistance promoting political and social change
Authors: Holmberg Arita , Alvinius Aida
Published: October 2019

This article explores children’s resistance in relation to the climate emergency through a thematic analysis of climate activist Greta Thunberg’s speeches. Two themes, new to the literature, are identified: (1) need for political and social change focusing on the climate emergency, resistance towards laissez-faire behaviour and exhortations, and (2) resistance targets including the political leaders, capitalist ideologies and older generations. This illustrates the power of children in expressing abstract progressive resistance.
Synthesis of self-healing polyurethane and its application in graphene/SnO2-pillared carbon anode materials
Authors: Kwon Young Joon , Modigunta Jeevan Kumar Reddy , Shanmugharaj AM , Mun Hyung Jin , Ryu Sung Hun
Published: October 2019

Self-healing polyurethane (SHPU) containing disulfide was synthesized and used as a binder to investigate its effect on the performance of reduced graphene oxide–tin oxide electrodes compared to those of polyurethane (PU) and poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) binders in Li-ion battery (LIB). Structural and morphological characterization of the SHPU and electrode was performed using a tensile tester, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer, and scanning electron microscopy. Electrochemical performance was investigated using Galvanostatic charge–discharge and electrochemical impedance measurements. The tensile properties and scanning electron microscopy photographs confirmed the self-healing characteristics of the synthesized SHPU. Electrochemical studies were conducted using an RGO-SnO2 electrode. The electrochemical measurements revealed that the SnO2-pillared carbon-based anode materials with SHPU binder showed improved cycling performances with an excellent reversible capacity retention compared to PU or PVDF. After 1000 cycles at 1C, the surface morphology of the electrode with SHPU showed no cracks or dendrites, while the PVDF-based electrode possessed some cracks and dendrites on its surface. The electrochemical results confirmed that SHPU binder improves the electrochemical performance of LIBs.
Sensorless adaptive sliding mode position control for piezoelectric actuators with charge leakage
Authors: Soleymanzadeh Davood , Ghafarirad Hamed , Zareinejad Mohammad
Published: October 2019

Position control of piezoelectric actuators is greatly affected by nonlinearities such as hysteresis and creep. Therefore, precise position sensors must be utilized which have high cost and complicated structures in micro scales. Charge-based position estimation is an alternative method which resorts to piezoelectric linear charge-position property to estimate the actuator position, but in low-impedance actuators, there is a charge leakage caused by actuator internal resistance which deteriorates the position estimation and closed-loop control performance. In this article, the leakage is considered as a sensor fault. Therefore, a combination of charge measurement method and an appropriate observer is designed to detect and isolate the mentioned fault and estimate the actuator position properly. In addition, an adaptive sliding mode control procedure is proposed for trajectory tracking in the presence of estimated states. The required analysis is carried out to guarantee the closed-loop stability. Finally, experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Accelerating and tuning small matrix multiplications on Sunway TaihuLight: A case study of spectral element CFD Code Nek5000
Authors: Wang Xianmeng , Zhou Zhifeng , Hu Changjun , Yang Wen , Zhao Minfu , Wang Zhaoshun , Shi Peng
Published: October 2019

The matrix–matrix products for matrices of small size have continued to play an important part in a range of scientific applications. The heterogeneous architecture, which is predicted to be a trend in the exascale supercomputing era, gives rises to the challenges of porting and optimizing small matrix products. We present a method to accelerating and tune small matrix multiplications on Sunway TaihuLight supercomputer, which has been titled as the most powerful supercomputer four times in the Top5000 list. Sunway TaihuLight is equipped with Shen-Wei hybrid manycore processors. We use Nek5000 as a case study to demonstrate our methods. Nek5000 is an open-source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver based on the spectral element method (SEM) for incompressible flow. The high-order SEM method, of which the computation kernel is small dense matrix products, is regarded to have the potential to overcome constraints of standard CFD software. By optimizing using vectorization, we gained about 30% performance improvement on management processing element. We accelerated Nek5000 using computing processing elements (CPEs). The experiments results suggest that employing 32 CPEs delivers the best performance enhancements. We scaled Nek5000 to 16,384 core groups with 540,672 cores, reaching about 30% performance improvements.
Drug Tolerant Cells: An Emerging Target With Unique Transcriptomic Features
Authors: Niveditha Divya , Sharma Harshita , Sahu Anirudha , Majumder Syamantak , Chowdhury Rajdeep , Chowdhury Shibasish
Published: October 2019

Long-term outcome of cancer therapy is often severely perturbed by the acquisition of drug resistance. Recent evidence point toward the survival of a subpopulation of tumor cells under acute drug stress that over time can re-populate the tumor. These transiently existing, weakly proliferative, drug-tolerant cells facilitate tumor cell survival until more stable resistance mechanisms are acquired. From a therapeutic perspective, understanding the molecular features of the tolerant cells is critical to attenuation of resistance. In this article, we discuss the transcriptomic features of drug-tolerant osteosarcoma cells that survive a high dose of cisplatin shock. We present the unique transcriptome of the minimally dividing tolerant cells in comparison with the proliferative persisters or resistant cells derived from the tolerant cells. Targeting the tolerant cells can represent an efficient therapeutic strategy impeding tumor recurrence.
The need to distinguish between different forms of oral nutrition refusal and different forms of voluntary stopping of eating and drinking
Authors: Stängle Sabrina , Schnepp Wilfried , Fringer André
Published: October 2019

Voluntary stopping of eating and drinking (VSED) is a well-known phenomenon among palliative care professionals. This study intent to distinguish between different forms of VSED. In a qualitative interview study 18 relatives were interviewed about their experiences of caring a person during VSED. Different forms of oral nutrition refusal and different forms of VSED were found and described. The study results help members of the multidisciplinary team to manage the situation appropriately.
Voices on display: Handwriting, paper, and authenticity, from museums to social network sites
Authors: Noy Chaim
Published: October 2019

The study examines the communicative functions that handwriting (mode) and paper (medium) have come to serve in increasingly digital and intermedial environments. The study begins in museums, where handwritten documents are profusely on display nowadays, and where the display affordances and communicative functions of handwriting are productively explored. Three curatorial display strategies are outlined. These are arranged chronologically, and range from traditional displays, where paper documents are presented inside glass cases, through artistic installations, where documents and handwriting are aesthetically simulated, to interactives, where the audiences/users themselves generate documents on-site. Exploring these strategies illuminates the concept of display as an agentic amalgamation of showing and telling, which produces authentic performances of voice-as-participation. These performances facilitate a move from private to public spheres – in museums and online. The study then proceeds to examine public displays of handwritten documents outside museums, specifically on social network sites. It asks whether and how conceptual sensitivities and sensibilities that originated in displays of handwritten artifacts in museums can shed light on the newer communicative functions of paper in digital environments. It also asks what are the intermedial consequences of the juxtaposition of analogue and digital surfaces. The study points at the current resurrection of handwriting and paper. It argues that the popularity of paper and handwriting results from their evolution into ubiquitous resources for display on and off the web, specifically as authentic bearers of voice that index human action and agency.
Online news media and propaganda influence on radicalized individuals: Findings from interviews with Islamist prisoners and former Islamists
Authors: Baugut Philip , Neumann Katharina
Published: October 2019

This study is the first to explore the twin influences of online propaganda and news media on Islamists. We conducted 44 in-depth interviews with cognitively and behaviorally radicalized Islamist prisoners in Austria as well as former Islamists in Germany and Austria. We found that online propaganda and news media had interdependent influences on Islamists’ rejections of non-Muslims and Western politics, as well as on their willingness to use violence and commit suicide. Cognitively radicalized individuals were influenced by propaganda that blamed non-Muslims for opposing Islam; this was reinforced by online mainstream news reports of right-wing populism and extremism that propagandists selectively distributed via social media. Among behaviorally radicalized individuals, exposure to propaganda and news reports depicting Muslim war victims contributed to the radicalized individuals’ willingness to use violence. Moreover, propaganda and media reports that extensively personalized perpetrators of violence strengthened radicalized individuals’ motivations to imitate the use of violence.
Interim use of a maxillary lip bumper during interdisciplinary management of ectopically erupted incisor teeth
Authors: Singh Harpreet , Sharma Poonam , Maurya Raj Kumar , Kapoor Pranav , Mittal Tanmay , Yadav Priya , Mittal Meenu
Published: October 2019

Introduction:

Ectopic eruption, manifesting as an aberration in the normal path of eruption of a tooth, can adversely impact facial aesthetics, phonetics and psychosocial development.

Description:

This case series describes the orthodontic management of two adolescent patients with different clinical presentations of ectopically erupted maxillary central incisors secondary to trauma during the primary dentition period. The therapy primarily included periodontal soft-tissue surgery accompanied by orthodontic traction to align the ectopic incisors. Frenectomy was performed in one patient and surgical excision of a hypertrophied pseudo-pouch in the second patient. A modified maxillary lip bumper was used concomitantly for management of associated soft-tissue trauma, thus facilitating healing and aiding orthodontic traction.

Results:

Appropriately planned interdisciplinary management involving the interim use of a modified lip bumper allowed proper alignment of the ectopically positioned incisors with a stable outcome at three-year follow-up.

Conclusion:

Fixed orthodontic therapy with concurrent use of modified maxillary lip bumper is an effective approach to treat incisors erupted ectopically in relation to the upper lip and frenum.