bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of some biostimulants on guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) plants
Authors: El-Lethy Safaa R. , Talaat Iman M. , Tarraf Shahira A. , El Moursi Abdalla
Published: December 2019

Background

Guar is an economic crop due to guar gum which is extracted from seeds and is used in several industries such as food, ink, plastics, pharmaceutical industry, and cosmetics. It can also be used as a cover crop, animal feed, and green manure. l-Tryptophan (l-β-3-indolylalanine) is a precursor of auxin which regulates plant growth and development. Nicotinamide is known as the amide form of vitamin B3. It is a constituent of the pyridine nucleotide coenzymes involved in many enzymatic oxidation-reduction reactions in cells. L-Tryptophan and nicotinamide are used in this study in order to improve guar growth, yield, and chemical constituents of seeds.

Results

The highest records of plant height and fresh and dry weights of leaves were recorded for plants treated with 300 mg/l nicotinamide followed by foliar treatment with 300 mg/l tryptophan. Fresh and dry weights of stems, number of pods/plant, fresh and dry weights of pods, pods yield, seeds yield, and straw yield followed the same trend. Total protein in guar seeds was significantly increased due to foliar treatment with tryptophan, especially in plants treated with 300 mg/l tryptophan, followed by plants treated with 300 mg/l nicotinamide. Total carbohydrates (mg/g dry wt.), total soluble sugars (mg/g dry wt.), total insoluble sugars (mg/g dry wt.), proline (μmol/g dry wt.), and total phenolic compounds (mg/g dry wt.) in the leaves followed the same trend.

Conclusion

It could be concluded that guar growth and yield are maximized with foliar treatment with nicotinamide (300 mg/l). Also, chemical constituents of seeds improved with nicotinamide and tryptophan treatments (each at 300 mg/l).
Development of an international survey attitude scale: measurement equivalence, reliability, and predictive validity
Authors: de Leeuw Edith , Hox Joop , Silber Henning , Struminskaya Bella , Vis Corrie
Published: December 2019

Declining response rates worldwide have stimulated interest in understanding what may be influencing this decline and how it varies across countries and survey populations. In this paper, we describe the development and validation of a short 9-item survey attitude scale that measures three important constructs, thought by many scholars to be related to decisions to participate in surveys, that is, survey enjoyment, survey value, and survey burden. The survey attitude scale is based on a literature review of earlier work by multiple authors. Our overarching goal with this study is to develop and validate a concise and effective measure of how individuals feel about responding to surveys that can be implemented in surveys and panels to understand the willingness to participate in surveys and improve survey effectiveness. The research questions relate to factor structure, measurement equivalence, reliability, and predictive validity of the survey attitude scale.

The data came from three probability-based panels: the German GESIS and PPSM panels and the Dutch LISS panel. The survey attitude scale proved to have a replicable three-dimensional factor structure (survey enjoyment, survey value, and survey burden). Partial scalar measurement equivalence was established across three panels that employed two languages (German and Dutch) and three measurement modes (web, telephone, and paper mail). For all three dimensions of the survey attitude scale, the reliability of the corresponding subscales (enjoyment, value, and burden) was satisfactory. Furthermore, the scales correlated with survey response in the expected directions, indicating predictive validity.
Inpatient TIA and stroke care in adult patients in Germany - retrospective analysis of nationwide administrative data sets of 2011 to 2017
Authors: Eyding Jens , Bartig Dirk , Weber Ralph , Katsanos Aristeidis H. , Weimar Christian , Hacke Werner , Krogias Christos
Published: December 2019

Background

Comprehensive administrative data on TIA and stroke cases and treatment modalities are fundamental for improving structural conditions and adjusting future strategies of stroke care.

Methods

The nationwide administrative database (German federal statistical office) was used to extract all adult inpatient TIA and stroke cases and corresponding procedural codes for the period 2011–2017. Numbers were specified according to age, sex, stroke unit (SU) and critical care treatment (ICU), early transfer, and in-hospital mortality.

Findings

Inpatient adult TIA/stroke cases increased from annually 102,406 / 250,199 (2011) to 106,245 / 264,208 (2017). 84% of strokes were ischemic (AIS) also having the highest relative increase most likely due to more accurate coding within the time period, 68.2% of AIS were treated on SUs. 78% of hemorrhagic strokes were intracerebral hematomas (ICH; rather than subarachnoid hemorrhages [SAH]). Hemorrhagic strokes were increasingly treated on SUs (32.6% [2011], 37.8% [2017]). 68.8% of SAH were treated on ICUs (ICH:36.3%, AIS:10.3%). Early transfer in AIS increased (2.0 to 3.1%). Hemorrhagic strokes were associated with higher in-hospital mortality (SAH:19.6%, ICH:28.2%, AIS:7.3%).

Interpretation

The absolute increase of strokes presumably reflects the aging society and more awareness for cerebrovascular disease. The relative increase of AIS may be attributable to an increased neurological expertise. The increasing amount of early transfers in AIS reflects new specialized treatment options. Our findings reflect the need for structural adjustments in inpatient stroke care.
Defense and counter-defense in rice–virus interactions
Authors: Qin Jiaqi , Wang Ci , Wang Leqi , Zhao Shanshan , Wu Jianguo
Published: December 2019

Rice viruses, known as “rice killer”, are vector-borne pathogens that cause severe disease and significant yield loss in rice production around the world. Rice virus disease is characterized by uncontrolled virus replication and the activation of host responses that contribute to pathogenesis. Underlying these phenomena is the potent suppression of rice antiviral responses, particularly the RNA silencing pathway and plant hormone pathways, which play vital roles in antiviral immunity. Classical rice virus disease control strategies include chemotherapeutics and use of disease resistance rice varieties. Here, we summarize recent advances in understanding the mechanisms behind the immune evasion and rice viral pathogenesis. Based on these mechanistic insights, we discuss how to combine different strategies for maintaining the effectiveness of rice resistance to viruses, and propose theoretical basis for the next generation of virus-resistant rice plants.
Understanding interactions in face-to-face and remote undergraduate science laboratories: a literature review
Authors: Wei Jianye , Treagust David F. , Mocerino Mauro , Lucey Anthony D. , Zadnik Marjan G. , Lindsay Euan D.
Published: December 2019

This paper reviews the ways in which interactions have been studied, and the findings of such studies, in science education in both face-to-face and remote laboratories. Guided by a systematic selection process, 27 directly relevant articles were analysed based on three categories: the instruments used for measuring interactions, the research findings on student interactions, and the theoretical frameworks used in the studies of student interactions. In face-to-face laboratories, instruments for measuring interactions and the characterisation of the nature of interactions were prominent. For remote laboratories, the analysis of direct interactions was found to be lacking. Instead, studies of remote laboratories were mainly concerned with their practical scope. In addition, it is found that only a limited number of theoretical frameworks have been developed and applied in the research design. Existent theories are summarised and possible theoretical frameworks that may be implemented in studies of interactions in undergraduate laboratories are proposed. Finally, future directions for research on the inter-relationship between student interactions and laboratory learning are suggested.
Biology education research: building integrative frameworks for teaching and learning about living systems
Authors: Nehm Ross H.
Published: December 2019

This critical review examines the challenges and opportunities facing the field of Biology Education Research (BER). Ongoing disciplinary fragmentation is identified as a force working in opposition to the development of unifying conceptual frameworks for living systems and for understanding student thinking about living systems. A review of Concept Inventory (CI) research is used to illustrate how the absence of conceptual frameworks can complicate attempts to uncover student thinking about living systems and efforts to guide biology instruction. The review identifies possible starting points for the development of integrative cognitive and disciplinary frameworks for BER. First, relevant insights from developmental and cognitive psychology are reviewed and their connections are drawn to biology education. Second, prior theoretical work by biologists is highlighted as a starting point for re-integrating biology using discipline-focused frameworks. Specifically, three interdependent disciplinary themes are proposed as central to making sense of disciplinary core ideas: unity and diversity; randomness, probability, and contingency; and scale, hierarchy, and emergence. Overall, the review emphasizes that cognitive and conceptual grounding will help to foster much needed epistemic stability and guide the development of integrative empirical research agendas for BER.
MRI evaluation of hepatic and cardiac iron burden in pediatric thalassemia major patients: spectrum of findings by T2*
Authors: Shehata Samar M. , Amin Mohamed I. , Zidan El Sayed H.
Published: December 2019

Background

Iron deposition distorts the local magnetic field exerting T2* signal decay. Biopsy, serum ferritin, echocardiography are not reliable to adjust iron chelation therapy. Quantified MRI signal decay can replace biopsy to diagnose iron burden, guide treatment, and follow up. The objective of this study is to evaluate the role of T2* in quantification of the liver and heart iron burden in thalassemia major patients. This cross-sectional study included 44 thalassemia patients who were referred to MRI unit, underwent T2* MRI.

Results

Twenty-one male (47.7%) and 23 female (52.3%) were included (age range 6–15 years, mean age 10.9 ± 2.9 years). Patients with excess hepatic iron show the following: 11/40 (27.5%) mild, (13/40) 32.5% moderate, and (14/40) 35% severe liver iron overload. High statistical significance regarding association between LIC and liver T2* (p = 0.000) encountered. Cardiac T2* values showed no relationship with age (p = 0.6).

Conclusion

T2* is a good method to quantify, monitor hepatic and myocardial iron burden, guiding chelation therapy and prevent iron-induced cardiac complications.
Can diffusion tensor imaging predict cerebral palsy in term neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy?
Authors: ElBeheiry Ahmed A. , Elgamal Mohamed A. , Ettaby Ashraf N. , Omar Tarek E. , Badeib Adham O.
Published: December 2019

Background

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a principal cause of pediatric mortality and morbidity, with possible neurologic sequel, such as cerebral palsy. Thus, it is of outmost importance to assess, shortly after birth, the prognosis of neonates with HIE. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in early prediction of cerebral palsy in term neonates with HIE. The study was carried out initially on 35 full-term neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with manifestations of HIE. Imaging was done at the age of 10.32 ± 1.78 days including conventional MRI and DTI (for detection of white matter injury). Thirty-three infants out of the initially examined 35 were finally evaluated at the age of 1 year with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development 3rd edition for development of cerebral palsy. Another MRI brain study was done at 1 year of age to evaluate the final brain imaging features and assess white matter integrity.

Results

Seventeen infants (17/33) were clinically normal while 16 (16/33) acquired cerebral palsy (CP) by the end of the first year. Initial conventional MRI showed false-negative results in 7 patients. Diffusion tensor imaging showed significantly different reduction in fractional anisotropy within the examined brain regions of interest (ROIs) between CP and normal outcome infants mostly at the posterior limb of the internal capsule, centrum semiovale, and corpus callosum with significant cutoff values of ≤ 0.435, ≤ 0.235, and ≤ 0.45, respectively.

Conclusions

Diffusion tensor imaging is a valuable tool for early prediction of CP in HIE neonates.
Pembrolizumab As Second-Line Therapy in Patients With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in KEYNOTE-240: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase III Trial
Authors: Finn Richard S. , Ryoo Baek-Yeol , Merle Philippe , Kudo Masatoshi , Bouattour Mohamed , Lim Ho Yeong , Breder Valeriy , Edeline Julien , Chao Yee , Ogasawara Sadahisa , Yau Thomas , Garrido Marcelo , Chan Stephen L. , Knox Jennifer , Daniele Bruno , Ebbinghaus Scot W. , Chen Erluo , Siegel Abby B. , Zhu Andrew X. , Cheng Ann-Lii ,   on behalf of the KEYNOTE-240 investigators
Published: December 2019

PURPOSE

Pembrolizumab demonstrated antitumor activity and safety in the phase II KEYNOTE-224 trial in previously treated patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). KEYNOTE-240 evaluated the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab in this population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This randomized, double-blind, phase III study was conducted at 119 medical centers in 27 countries. Eligible patients with advanced HCC, previously treated with sorafenib, were randomly assigned at a two-to-one ratio to receive pembrolizumab plus best supportive care (BSC) or placebo plus BSC. Primary end points were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS; one-sided significance thresholds, P = .0174 [final analysis] and P = .002 [first interim analysis], respectively). Safety was assessed in all patients who received ≥ 1 dose of study drug.

RESULTS

Between May 31, 2016, and November 23, 2017, 413 patients were randomly assigned. As of January 2, 2019, median follow-up was 13.8 months for pembrolizumab and 10.6 months for placebo. Median OS was 13.9 months (95% CI, 11.6 to 16.0 months) for pembrolizumab versus 10.6 months (95% CI, 8.3 to 13.5 months) for placebo (hazard ratio [HR], 0.781; 95% CI, 0.611 to 0.998; P = .0238). Median PFS for pembrolizumab was 3.0 months (95% CI, 2.8 to 4.1 months) versus 2.8 months (95% CI, 2.5 to 4.1 months) for placebo at the first interim analysis (HR, 0.775; 95% CI, 0.609 to 0.987; P = .0186) and 3.0 months (95% CI, 2.8 to 4.1 months) versus 2.8 months (95% CI, 1.6 to 3.0 months) at final analysis (HR, 0.718; 95% CI, 0.570 to 0.904; P = .0022). Grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 147 (52.7%) and 62 patients (46.3%) for pembrolizumab versus placebo; those that were treatment related occurred in 52 (18.6%) and 10 patients (7.5%), respectively. No hepatitis C or B flares were identified.

CONCLUSION

In this study, OS and PFS did not reach statistical significance per specified criteria. The results are consistent with those of KEYNOTE-224, supporting a favorable risk-to-benefit ratio for pembrolizumab in this population.
Distribution of benzalkonium chloride into the aqueous phases of submicron dispersed systems: emulsions, aqueous lecithin dispersion and nanospheres
Authors: Watrobska–Swietlikowska Dorota
Published: December 2019

Partitioning of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) into the aqueous phases of submicron dispersed systems such as submicron emulsions, aqueous lecithin dispersion (WLD), and suspension of nanospheres (NLC) was studied. The aqueous phases of the investigated systems were obtained by ultracentrifugation and subsequently were subjected to ultrafiltration, which procedure allowed distinguishing between the fractions of free benzalkonium chloride (w) and those incorporated in the liposomal and micellar region (wlm). The fractions present in the oily phase and in the interphase of submicron emulsions were calculated. Despite the various composition of the investigated formulations and the initial concentration of BAC, w values were very small at 0.2–8.0%. The wlm value in submicron emulsions was increased by increasing the total concentration of preservative from 29.0 to 42.0%. Using polysorbate 80 instead of lecithin resulted in a distribution of BAC to aqueous–liposomal–micellar phase that was twice as high. The very low concentration of antimicrobial active form of benzalkonium chloride was analyzed in the aqueous phase of emulsions stabilized with lecithin as well as in aqueous lecithin dispersion and nanospheres (below 3%). Replacement of lecithin with polysorbate 80 in emulsions with polysorbate significantly increase (up to 8%) the fraction of benzalkonium chloride in the aqueous phase where microbial growth occurs.
Dhow Itineraries
Authors: Mahajan Nidhi
Published: December 2019

Ever since 9/11, dhows, or Indian Ocean sailing vessels, have been viewed as inherently threatening to national and international security, as government authorities suspect that they are used to smuggle weapons and militants. Most recently, dhows that transport charcoal from Somalia to the United Arab Emirates have been implicated in funding al-Shabaab, a militant group. Rather than taking a presentist view, this article argues that these security concerns have emerged from a deep-rooted anxiety over mobility in the Indian Ocean, as dhow networks challenge state sovereignty. Dhows, once habituated to a world of layered sovereignty, have now been forced to contend with the boundaries of centralized sovereign states. Moreover, government and international law and policy such as economic liberalization in India have made the dhow trade more precarious, and pushed it into a shadow economy that ultimately converges with financing for al-Shabaab, even as this economy sustains seafaring populations in the midst of economic precarity. Tracing dhow itineraries in tandem with shifting regulations across South Asia and East Africa, the article charts an alternate course of Indian Ocean history, one in which dhow networks navigate multiple regulatory regimes and global shifts by operating in a shadow economy at the margins of states.
“There Is Never a Peace Time, It Is Just No War Time”
Authors: Gupta Radhika
Published: December 2019

There is no doubt that military occupation of civilian spaces and lives constitutes a fundamental structural violence. This is more easily apprehended in cases where exceptional violence is wrought by security forces on civilian populations, as in the Kashmir Valley in India. How do we grasp the effects of securitization on the political subjectivity of citizen-subjects in the absence of visible violence and overt political critique? This article ethnographically tracks civil-military interactions in Kargil, located on the disputed India-Pakistan borderland, to analyze the normalization of structural violence and the production of affective regimes that defy dichotomies of resistance and submission. These affective regimes are characterized by paradoxical emotions, which are integral to securitized practices of colonization of subject populations. However, it is these very paradoxes that also lend insight into the incomplete hegemony of the military apparatus expressed in ambivalent political subjectivities.
“What Is Your Evidence?”
Authors: Vinea Ana
Published: December 2019

This article examines the notion of evidence (dalil) as it circulates in a revivalist religious therapy in contemporary Egypt to address current transformations of Islamic epistemologies, especially in relation to modern science. It focuses on Quranic healing, a Salafi-oriented therapy of spirit (jinn) exorcism that has become increasingly popular, visible, and debated in the public sphere beginning with the 1980s. By tracing the semantics and pragmatics of Quranic healing's evidentiary regime, the article shows that evidence is situated and crosses two domains of knowledge, bringing together a Salafi episteme that foregrounds unmediated induction from the Quran and sunna and forms of reasoning and practice, such as empiricism and experimentation, that pertain to modern science. In this manner, evidence functions like a hinge notion that hierarchically links the religious and scientific domains, giving precedence to the former over the latter. The article argues that the centrality of evidence in this novel Salafi therapy is indicative of an epistemology that unites Islam and science under a wider theory of knowledge as transparent, egalitarian, and public. This analysis suggests new ways of understanding Salafism beyond common depictions as critical of nontextual sources and intolerant of modern formations.
An interview with Maria Elena Torres-Padilla
Authors: Grewal Seema
Published: December 2019

Maria Elena Torres-Padilla is Director of the Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells at Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany. Maria Elena, who studies how cell potency and cell fate are regulated by chromatin-mediated processes, was recently appointed as an Academic Editor at Development. We caught up with Maria Elena at a recent conference to find out more about her background, her research and her thoughts on the ties between the chromatin and developmental biology fields.
Antibiotic resistance prediction for Mycobacterium tuberculosis from genome sequence data with Mykrobe
Authors: Hunt Martin , Bradley Phelim , Lapierre Simon Grandjean , Heys Simon , Thomsit Mark , Hall Michael B. , Malone Kerri M. , Wintringer Penelope , Walker Timothy M. , Cirillo Daniela M. , Comas Iñaki , Farhat Maha R. , Fowler Phillip , Gardy Jennifer , Ismail Nazir , Kohl Thomas A. , Mathys Vanessa , Merker Matthias , Niemann Stefan , Omar Shaheed Vally , Sintchenko Vitali , Smith Grace , Soolingen Dick van , Supply Philip , Tahseen Sabira , Wilcox Mark , Arandjelovic Irena , Peto Tim E. A. , Crook Derrick W. , Iqbal Zamin
Published: December 2019

Two billion people are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, leading to 10 million new cases of active tuberculosis and 1.5 million deaths annually. Universal access to drug susceptibility testing (DST) has become a World Health Organization priority. We previously developed a software tool, Mykrobe predictor, which provided offline species identification and drug resistance predictions for M. tuberculosis from whole genome sequencing (WGS) data. Performance was insufficient to support the use of WGS as an alternative to conventional phenotype-based DST, due to mutation catalogue limitations. 

Here we present a new tool, Mykrobe, which provides the same functionality based on a new software implementation. Improvements include i) an updated mutation catalogue giving greater sensitivity to detect pyrazinamide resistance, ii) support for user-defined resistance catalogues, iii) improved identification of non-tuberculous mycobacterial species, and iv) an updated statistical model for Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing data. Mykrobe is released under MIT license at https://github.com/mykrobe-tools/mykrobe. We incorporate mutation catalogues from the CRyPTIC consortium et al. (2018) and from Walker et al. (2015), and make improvements based on performance on an initial set of 3206 and an independent set of 5845 M. tuberculosis Illumina sequences. To give estimates of error rates, we use a prospectively collected dataset of 4362 M. tuberculosis isolates. Using culture based DST as the reference, we estimate Mykrobe to be 100%, 95%, 82%, 99% sensitive and 99%, 100%, 99%, 99% specific for rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol resistance prediction respectively. We benchmark against four other tools on 10207 (=5845+4362) samples, and also show that Mykrobe gives concordant results with nanopore data. 

We measure the ability of Mykrobe-based DST to guide personalized therapeutic regimen design in the context of complex drug susceptibility profiles, showing 94% concordance of implied regimen with that driven by phenotypic DST, higher than all other benchmarked tools.
Identification and detection of falsification of food products
Authors: Николаева Мария , Nikolaeva Maria , Положишникова Марина , Polozhishnikova Marina
Published: December 2019

The textbook discusses the basic concepts, objectives, types, criteria, features and methods of identification, as well as means and methods of detection of falsification, and these issues are considered in General theoretical aspects and homogeneous groups of goods.
Meets the requirements of the Federal state educational standards of higher education of the last generation.
It is intended for students of higher education of bachelor level in the directions "commodity science" and "trade business", specialty in the specialty "Customs business", and also for students of secondary professional education in the specialties "commodity science and examination of consumer goods" and " Commerce (by branches)". It is also useful for practitioners of production and trade organizations, as well as control bodies.
MODELING THE IMPACT OF MERCURY-CONTAINING WASTES OF TECHNOSPHERE OBJECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF MEASURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR
Authors: Звягинцева Алла , Zvyaginceva Alla , Сазонова Светлана , Sazonova Svetlana , Кульнева В. , Kul'neva V.
Published: December 2019

The possible negative impacts on the environment from existing enterprises are examined, the result of which is the deterioration of the environmental situation within the sanitary protection zones. A comprehensive assessment of the impact of the company «EVO» on the environment and a comprehensive analysis of the technology for processing mercury-containing waste was carried out. As a result of such an assessment, the main sources of air pollution were identified. In the technological part, the technological process of processing mercury-containing waste was studied, a production concept was developed, and a material balance of the technological system was drawn up. Measures have been developed to protect atmospheric air. The developed comprehensive measures for atmospheric air protection of the environmental protection system of EVO LLC will contribute to improving the level of environmental safety.
ASSESSMENT OF THE PROCESS OF TECHNOGENIC POLLUTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE BY HEAT POWER FACILITIES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING MEASURES
Authors: Звягинцева Алла , Zvyaginceva Alla , Сазонова Светлана , Sazonova Svetlana , Мозговой Николай , Mozgovoy N.
Published: December 2019

Technological processes at thermal power facilities - combined heat and power plants - are examined. The principle of operation of heat power facilities is considered on the example of the Voronezh TPP-1. The equipment is considered, with the help of the rational use of which the required level of ecological safety of the technogenic object can be achieved. Taking into account the peculiarities of the production processes at the Voronezh TPP-1, the most effective set of engineering, technical and environmental measures aimed at reducing the technogenic impact of the TPP on the surrounding city atmosphere is proposed
Lean Management “Quick-Wins”: Results of Implementation. A Case Study
Authors: Rodrigues Jorge , De Sá José C.V. , Ferreira Luís P. , Silva Francisco J.G. , Santos Gilberto
Published: December 2019

Purpose: This study comprised two main goals. The first goal demonstrates how LT (Lean Tools) allows the highest impact during the implementation phase.The second goal consisted of introducing procedure changes based on the Management of Human Resources through Lean Leadership tool. The target for these two objectives is to achieve an increase of 5% in machine occupancy rate and a reduction of 10% regarding the costs of defective products per hour.Methodology/Approach: The research methodology is a Action-Research/Research-Action developed by Professor Kurt Lewin of MIT that goes through cycles of five stages: Diagnosis; Planning; Implementation; Evaluation, Conclusions.Findings: Regarding the two objectives above mentioned, it was observed an increase of 8.5% in machine occupancy rate and a reduction of 27.9% regarding the costs per hour of defective products. It was created an additional motivation in the employees and very satisfying results in every production.Research Limitation/implication: The study is limited to a Portuguese Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) in the metalworking sector.Originality/Value of paper: Lean tools can be rapidly and easily implemented and quickly understood by the workers. With that implementation, the occupation of the machines has increased and the defects and their costs have decreased, so the added value grows.
The Main Benefits of the Implementation of the Quality Management System in Higher Education Institutions in Angola
Authors: Africano Nicolay , Rodrigues Ana S. , Santos Gilberto
Published: December 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study is to obtain a diagnosis regarding the implementation of QMS (Quality Management System) according to ISO 9001 in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of Angola.Methodology/Approach: The research was conducted through a questionnaire proposed to survey selected 55 institutions. Fifty completed questionnaires were received, representing the sample of this work. The statistical analysis SPSS version 22.0 for Windows was used for the treatment of the data.Findings: The results of the study show that of the 50 Angolan HEIs surveyed, only 20% of them have the Quality Management System implemented. As main benefits of the implementation of the QMS in HEIs of Angola, we can highlight: Improvement of the quality of teaching; Improvement of student satisfaction; Improvement of confidence of students and other stakeholders; Improvement in student assessment; Improvement of teacher competences.Research Limitation/implication: The main limitation of the study lies in the fact that of the 50 Angolan HEIs referred, only 20% of them have the Quality Management System implemented, which shows that there is still much work to be done in this area.Originality/Value of paper: Higher education in Angola has had an evolution in terms of demand and access. Due to the quantitative development of higher education in Angola, it is necessary to be accompanied by qualitative growth, which implies the reinforcement of the need for quality management.
Development of Interpersonal Mindfulness Scale-TR (IMS-TR): Validity and Reliability
Authors: Erus Seher Merve , Tekel Esra
Published: December 2019

The purpose of this study is to develop an Interpersonal Mindfulness Scale-TR (IMS-TR) for Turkish culture. For the data collection process, four different sample groups participated in the study. To test the construct validity of the scale an exploratory factor analysis was performed. Results suggested a 13-item, two-factor solution as (1) awareness and (2) being in the moment. Two-factor structure explains 50.65% of the variance. A confirmatory factor analysis results showed good fit for two-factor solution. The Mindfulness in Parenting Questionnaire and the Mindfulness in Marriage Scale were used to examine a convergent validity and positive significant relationships were found between the scales. To test the reliability of the scale Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient of the overall scale was determined to be .826. To determine the stability coefficient of the IMS-TR, test-retest method was used and according to result there is a positive relationship between the scales. According to all of these results, it can be said that the IMS-TR has a validity and reliability.
Developing of Computerized Adaptive Testing to Measure Physics Higher Order Thinking Skills of Senior High School Students and its Feasibility of Use
Authors: Istiyono Edi , Dwandaru Wipsar Sunu Brams , Setiawan Risky , Megawati Intan
Published: December 2019

The Computer has occupied a comprehensive coverage, especially in education scopes, including in learning-teaching processes, testing, and evaluating. This research aimed to develop computerized adaptive testing (CAT) to measure physics higher-order thinking skills (HOTS), namely PhysTHOTS-CAT. The Research Development used the 4-D developmental model carrying the four phases of define, design, development, and dissemination (4D) developed by Thiagarajan. This testing instrument can give the item test based on the student’s abilities. The research phases include (1) needs analysis and definition, (2) development design (3) development of CAT and assemble the test items into CAT, (4) validation by experts, and (5) feasibility try-out. The findings show that PhysTHOTS-CAT is valid to measure physics HOTS of the 10th-grade students of Senior High School according to 82.28% of teachers and students assessment on PhysTHOTS-CAT content and media. Therefore, it can conclude that PhysTHOTS-CAT can be used and feasible to measure physics HOTS of the 10th-grade students of the Senior High School.
Postoperative opioid cessation rates based on preoperative opioid use
Authors: Brock J. Logan , Jain Nikhil , Phillips Frank M. , Malik Azeem T. , Khan Safdar N.
Published: December 2019

Aims

The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between pre- and postoperative opioid use among patients undergoing common elective orthopaedic procedures

Patients and Methods

Pre- and postoperative opioid use were studied among patients from a national insurance database undergoing seven common orthopaedic procedures using univariate log-rank tests and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses.

Results

A total of 98 769 patients were included; 35 701 patients were opioid-naïve, 11 621 used opioids continuously for six months before surgery, and 4558 used opioids continuously for at least six months but did not obtain any prescriptions in the three months before surgery. Among opioid-naïve patients, between 0.76% and 4.53% used opioids chronically postoperatively. Among chronic preoperative users, between 42% and 62% ceased chronic opioids postoperatively. A three-month opioid-free period preoperatively led to a rate of cessation of chronic opioid use between 82% and 93%, as compared with between 31% and 50% with continuous preoperative use (p < 0.001 for significant changes in opioid use before and after surgery in each procedure). Between 5.6 and 20.0 preoperative chronic users ceased chronic use for every new chronic opioid user. Risk factors for chronic postoperative use included chronic preoperative opioid use (odds ratio (OR) 4.84 to 39.75; p < 0.0001) and depression (OR 1.14 to 1.55; p < 0.05 except total hip arthroplasty). With a three-month opioid-free period before surgery, chronic preoperative opioids elevated the risk of chronic opioid use only mildly, if at all (OR 0.47 to 1.75; p < 0.05 for total shoulder arthroplasty, rotator cuff repair, and carpal tunnel release).

Conclusion

Chronic preoperative opioid use increases the risk of chronic postoperative use, but an opioid-free period before surgery decreases this risk compared with continuous preoperative use Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:1570–1577
Long-term outcome of fusion for degenerative disc disease in the lumbar spine
Authors: Endler Peter , Ekman Per , Berglund Ivan , Möller Hans , Gerdhem Paul
Published: December 2019

Aims

Chronic low back pain due to degenerative disc disease is sometimes treated with fusion. We compared the outcome of three different fusion techniques in the Swedish Spine Register: noninstrumented posterolateral fusion (PLF), instrumented posterolateral fusion (IPLF), and interbody fusion (IBF).

Patients and Methods

A total of 2874 patients who were operated on at one or two lumbar levels were followed for a mean of 9.2 years (3.6 to 19.1) for any additional lumbar spine surgery. Patient-reported outcome data were available preoperatively (n = 2874) and at one year (n = 2274), two years (n = 1958), and a mean of 6.9 years (n = 1518) postoperatively and consisted of global assessment and visual analogue scales of leg and back pain, Oswestry Disability Index, EuroQol five-dimensional index, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, and satisfaction with treatment. Statistical analyses were performed with competing-risks proportional hazards regression or analysis of covariance, adjusted for baseline variables.

Results

The number of patients with additional surgery were 32/183 (17%) in the PLF group, 229/1256 (18%) in the IPLF group, and 439/1435 (31%) in the IBF group. With the PLF group as a reference, the hazard ratio for additional lumbar surgery was 1.16 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78 to 1.72) for the IPLF group and 2.13 (95% CI 1.45 to 3.12) for the IBF group. All patient-reported outcomes improved after surgery (p < 0.001) but were without statistically significant differences between the groups at the one-, two- and 6.9-year follow-ups (all p ≥ 0.12).

Conclusion

The addition of interbody fusion to posterolateral fusion was associated with a higher risk for additional surgery and showed no advantages in patient-reported outcome Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:1526–1533
No effect on functional outcome after repair of pronator quadratus in volar plating of distal radial fractures: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Sonntag Jesper , Woythal Linn , Rasmussen Per , Branner Ulrik , Hølmer Per , Jensen Andreas Kryger , Lange Kai H. W. , Brorson Stig
Published: December 2019

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in functional outcome after repair and non-repair of the pronator quadratus muscle in patients undergoing surgical treatment for a distal radial fracture with volar plating.

Patients and Methods

A total of 72 patients with a distal radial fracture were included in this randomized clinical trial. They were allocated to have the pronator quadratus muscle repaired or not, after volar locked plating of a distal radial fracture. The patients, the assessor, the primary investigator, and the statistician were blinded to the allocation. Randomization was irreversibly performed using a web application that guaranteed a secure and tamper-free assignment. The primary outcome measure was the Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) after 12 months. Secondary outcomes included the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, pronation strength, grip strength, the range of pronation and supination, complications, and the operating time.

Results

Of the 72 patients, 63 (87.5%) completed follow-up for the primary outcome measure: 31 (86.1%) from the non-repair group and 32 (88.9%) from the repair group. At the 12-month follow-up, the mean difference in PRWE of 5.47 (95% confidence interval (CI) -4.02 to 14.96) between the repair (mean 18.38 (95% CI 10.34 to 26.41)) and non-repair group (mean 12.90 (95% CI 7.55 to 18.25)) was not statistically significant (p = 0.253). There was a statistically significant difference between pronation strength, favouring non-repair. We found no difference in the other secondary outcomes.

Conclusion

We found that repairing pronator quadratus made no difference to the clinical outcome, 12 months after volar plating of a distal radial fracture. We conclude that there is no functional advantage in repairing this muscle under these circumstances and advise against it. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:1498–1505
Results of growth-friendly management of early-onset scoliosis in children with and without skeletal dysplasias
Authors: Helenius Ilkka J. , Saarinen Antti J. , White Klane K. , McClung Anna , Yazici Muharrem , Garg Sumeet , Thompson George H. , Johnston Charles E. , Pahys Joshua M. , Vitale Michael G. , Akbarnia Behrooz A. , Sponseller Paul D.
Published: December 2019

Aims

The aim of this study was to compare the surgical and quality-of-life outcomes of children with skeletal dysplasia to those in children with idiopathic early-onset scoliosis (EOS) undergoing growth-friendly management.

Patients and Methods

A retrospective review of two prospective multicentre EOS databases identified 33 children with skeletal dysplasia and EOS (major curve ≥ 30°) who were treated with growth-friendly instrumentation at younger than ten years of age, had a minimum two years of postoperative follow-up, and had undergone three or more lengthening procedures. From the same registries, 33 matched controls with idiopathic EOS were identified. A total of 20 children in both groups were treated with growing rods and 13 children were treated with vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) instrumentation.

Results

Mean preoperative major curves were 76° (34° to 115°) in the skeletal dysplasia group and 75° (51° to 113°) in the idiopathic group (p = 0.55), which were corrected at final follow-up to 49° (13° to 113°) and 46° (12° to 112°; p = 0.68), respectively. T1-S1 height increased by a mean of 36 mm (0 to 105) in the skeletal dysplasia group and 38 mm (7 to 104) in the idiopathic group at the index surgery (p = 0.40), and by 21 mm (1 to 68) and 46 mm (7 to 157), respectively, during the distraction period (p = 0.0085). The skeletal dysplasia group had significantly worse scores in the physical function, daily living, financial impact, and parent satisfaction preoperatively, as well as on financial impact and child satisfaction at final follow-up, than the idiopathic group (all p < 0.05). The domains of the 24-Item Early-Onset Scoliosis Questionnaire (EOSQ24) remained at the same level from preoperative to final follow-up in the skeletal dysplasia group (all p > 0.10).

Conclusion

Children with skeletal dysplasia gained significantly less spinal growth during growth-friendly management of their EOS and their health-related quality of life was significantly lower both preoperatively and at final follow-up than in children with idiopathic EOS. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:1563–1569
Effects of Surface Diffuseness and Coupling Radius Parameters on The Fusion and Quasi-Elastic Barrier Distributions
Authors: Variani Viska Inda , Usman Ida , Firihu Muhammad Zamrun
Published: December 2019

We study the heavy-ion reaction at sub-barrier energies for 16O+144,154Smsystems using full order coupled-channels formalism. We especially investigate the effect of fusion and quasi- elastic barrier distributions on the surface diffuseness and the coupling radius parameters of the nuclear potential for these systems. We found that the structure of fusion and quasi-elastic barrier distributions is more sensitive to the surface diffuseness and coupling radius parameters for the reaction with spherical target, 16O+144Sm systemcompared to the reaction that involves the deformed target, i.e., 16O+154Sm system. In more detail, the results of coupled-channels calculations for the fusion and the quasi-elastic barrier distributions for deformed target are not sensitive to the choice of the coupling radius and surface diffuseness parameters. In mark contrast, the structure of the fusion and the quasi-elastic barrier distributions for spherical target are very sensitive to the coupling radius and surface diffuseness parameters. We found that the small surface diffuseness parameter smeared out the fusion barrier distributions and the larger coupling radius smoothed the high energy peak of the quasi-elastic barrier distributions. We also found that the larger coupling radius, , is required by the experimental quasi-elastic barrier distribution for the 16O+144Sm system whereas the experimental fusion barrier distribution compulsory the small value, i.e., .
The Effect of the Polymer Type in the Three-Phases Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Catalyzed by suspended Iron Nanocatalysts
Authors: Atiya Ghalib A. , Al khazraji Abdulqadier H. , Mourad Sahar H.
Published: December 2019

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) was conducted over paraffin-iron catalysts of three phases system with synthetic polymers that contains different compositions. The suspended iron nanocatalyst was introduced into the slurry reactors Fischer-Tropsch with range temperature (220-320)oC at 2.0 MPa, the atomic ratio contains: 100Fe/100 Paraffin/10 wt% polymer. The study of phase, structure and morphology of the nanocatalyst using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscope (AFM) techniques confirmed that there are two phases of iron oxides Fe3O4 and δ-FeOOH are existed. Maximum conversion of CO to yields of total liquid hydrocarbons that obtained was 74% and 62 g/m3 of FTS over the catalyst Fe-Paraffin/ Polyethylene glycol (Fe-P/PEG) compared to Fe-Paraffin/ Polyethylene terephthalate (Fe-P/PET) and Fe-Paraffin/polycarbonate (Fe-P/PC) systems. The results shows that the polymer type and their structure as well as preparation time of the iron nanocatalysts have high influence on the particle size value. A selectivity of 65% of syngas converted C5+ liquid hydrocarbons achieved using (Fe-P/PEG) catalyst.
Inclusive Outcomes for Social Entrepreneurs With Intellectual Disability: “What Happens When They Act”
Authors: Caldwell Kate , Harris Sarah Parker , Renko Maija
Published: December 2019

Social entrepreneurship is a growing trend, reflecting a shift in contemporary policy towards entrepreneurship as viable employment option for people with intellectual disability (ID). Entrepreneurship is intended to promote autonomy, reduce dependence on entitlement-based services, and reduce employment disparities while stimulating business and job creation. It is not well understood what this means for people with ID involved in social entrepreneurship. Dyadic interviews were conducted with people with ID participating in social entrepreneurship (n = 7) as well as their key support person (n = 7). Interviews focused on understanding outcomes in social entrepreneurship for people with ID, or “what happens when they act.” In particular, this article explores perceptions of profit/self-sufficiency, growth, and social innovation to challenge how outcomes have been traditionally assessed.
Guideposts for High-Quality Community Life Engagement Supports: Results of Expert Interviews
Authors: Sulewski Jennifer Sullivan , Timmons Jaimie Ciulla , Lyons Oliver , Hall Allison Cohen
Published: December 2019

While the benefits of community life engagement (CLE) for individuals with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) are clear, high-quality day services and supports remain largely undefined. This study interviewed “experts” in the field of CLE in order to seek agreement about what constitutes “best practices” for day services and supports that lead to CLE. Using a semistructured interview protocol, we asked 13 experts in the field, representing diverse standpoints, about their delivery and utilization of supports. Four overarching themes emerged: (Guidepost 1) Individualize supports for each person; (Guidepost 2) Promote community membership and contribution; (Guidepost 3) Use human and social capital to decrease dependence on paid supports; and (Guidepost 4) Ensure that supports are outcome-oriented and regularly monitored. Recommendations are offered for the field.