bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Detection of Structural Anomalies in a Primary Care Setting in the Netherlands
Authors: Bardi Francesca , Smith Eric , Kuilman Maja , Snijders Rosalinde J.M. , Bilardo Caterina Maddalena
Published: July 2018

Objective: This study assessed the percentage and type of congenital anomalies diagnosed at first-trimester ultrasound (US) scan in a primary care setting without following a standardized protocol for fetal anatomical assessment. Materials and Methods: US scans performed between 11+0 and 13+6 weeks of gestation in pregnancies with estimated date of delivery between January 1, 2012 and January 1, 2016 were searched. Data were supplemented with results of 20-week scans and pregnancy outcome. Results: Of all scans, 38.6% were dating scans and 61.4% were part of first-trimester screening. Anomalies were diagnosed prenatally in 200 (1.8%) fetuses; 81 (0.7%) were chromosomal and 119 (1.1%) were structural. Of all prenatally detected anomalies, 27% (n = 32) were detected at first-trimester scan, with a false-positive rate of 0.04%. All cases of anencephaly (n = 4), encephalocele (n = 2), exomphalos (n = 9), megacystis (n = 4), and limb reduction (n = 1) were diagnosed. First-trimester detection of gastroschisis and congenital heart defects was 67 and 19%, respectively. Conclusion: In a primary care setting, global fetal anatomical assessment at first-trimester scan without following a standardized protocol detects about 30% of all structural anomalies and most of the severe anomalies, with an extremely low false-positive rate. We hypothesize that additional training and use of a systematic protocol would improve early detection of structural anomalies.
Periodic Slow Waves Presenting as Ictal Electroencephalography Findings in Complex Partial Status Epilepticus
Authors: Yasugi Daisuke , Sasaki Takeshi , Taniguchi Go
Published: July 2018

The diagnosis of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) largely relies on electroencephalography (EEG) findings, but the existing diagnostic criteria for EEG results are sometimes inconsistent. Much debate has centered on periodic epileptic discharges (PEDs) and their relationship with seizures. The recently published Salzburg Consensus Criteria for diagnosis of NCSE, which consider PEDs to be ictal findings under several conditions, have been proven to have high diagnostic accuracy. However, the criteria do not include periodic slow waves (PSWs) and do not consider these as overall ictal electrographic changes. Here, we report 2 cases of complex partial status epilepticus in which routine EEG showed PSWs without epileptiform activity during the clinical ictal phase. Both patients were elderly males who had histories of seizures and presented with impaired consciousness and signs such as aphasia or tongue automatism that indicated a temporal lobe origin. After we administered antiepileptic drugs (AED), the clinical signs and periodic EEG slow waves disappeared. These cases show that PSWs may appear as ictal electrographic changes in NCSE. When PSWs accompany clinical signs suggestive of NCSE, they should be considered ictal findings, and physicians should administer AED.
Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis Identifies Specific Modules and Hub Genes Related to Hyperlipidemia
Authors: Miao Liu , Yin Rui-Xing  , Pan Shang-Ling , Yang Shuo , Yang De-Zhai , Lin Wei-Xiong
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: The present study attempted to identify the potential key genes and pathways of hyperlipidemia, and to investigate the possible mechanisms associated with them. Methods: The array data of GSE3059 were downloaded, including thirteen samples of hyperlipidemia from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed with WGCNA package, and the salmon and midnight blue modules were found as the highest correlation. Gene Ontology annotation and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses for these two modules were performed by cluster Profiler and DOSE package. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established using Cytoscape software, and significant modules were analyzed using Molecular Complex Detection. Results: Five genes (histone deacetylase 4, HDAC4; F2R like trypsin receptor 1, F2RL1; abhydrolase domain containing 2, ABHD2; transmembrane 4 L six family member 1, TM4SF1; and family with sequence similarity 13-member A, FAM13A) were found with a significant meaning. When their expression levels were validated with RT-qPCR, the relative expression levels were lower (HDAC4) and higher (F2RL1, ABHD2, TM4SF1 and FAM13A) in hyperlipidemia than in normal controls (P < 0.05-0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that the relative expression levels of HDAC4 were lower, whereas those of F2RL1 and ABHD2 were higher in Maonan than in Han ethnic groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Except for genetic factors and environmental exposures, epigenetic influence was another mechanism of hyperlipidemia in our study populations, which needed to further confirm.
The Natural Rotenoid Deguelin Ameliorates Diabetic Neuropathy by Decreasing Oxidative Stress and Plasma Glucose Levels in Rats via the Nrf2 Signalling Pathway
Authors: Chen Ji , Liu Wenjie , Yi Han , Hu Xiaoling , Peng Liangyu , Yang Fengrui
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Deguelin is a natural rotenoid that shows anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Rotenoids prevent oxidative damage and potentiate natural antioxidant activity in diabetic conditions, suggesting utility in treating diabetes and its complications. Here, we evaluate the potential efficacy of deguelin against diabetic neuropathy (DN). Methods: DN was induced by streptozotocin followed by daily treatment with deguelin (4, 6 or 8 mg/kg) for 14 days. Blood glucose was measured, neurobehavioral tests for nociception and motor coordination were performed, and neuron conduction velocities were analysed electrophysiologically. We also assessed (Na+-K+) ATPase activity, performed a reactive oxygen species assay, measured the levels of various markers of oxidative stress, and of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, conducted immunoblotting studies for proteins and ELISA for inflammatory cytokines. Results: Deguelin significantly suppressed mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia, as well as cold allodynia, and partially restored the conduction velocities of neurons in DN rats. Significantly decreased expression levels of capspase-3 in DRG neurons, and increased (Na+-K+) ATPase activity in sciatic nerves, were observed. In addition, deguelin decreased glucose levels, attenuated oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, and elevated levels of H2S, nuclear respiratory factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1, suggesting a disease-attenuating effect of deguelin in DN rats. To shed light on the underlying mechanism of action of deguelin, insulin- and dimethyl fumarate (BG-12)-treated groups were also included. Insulin suppressed glucose levels and BG-12 produced effects on Nrf2 levels similar to 8 mg/kg deguelin, confirming involvement of the Nrf2 pathway in the beneficial effects of deguelin against DN. Conclusions: Deguelin attenuated DN by decreasing oxidative stress and plasma glucose levels via the Nrf2 signalling pathway.
RNA Binding Proteins Control Transdifferentiation of Hepatic Stellate Cells into Myofibroblasts
Authors: Wang Sihyung , Jung Youngmi , Hyun Jeongeun , Friedersdorf Matthew , Oh Seh-Hoon , Kim Jieun , Premont Richard T. , Keene Jack D. , Diehl Anna Mae
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Myofibroblasts (MF) derived from quiescent nonfibrogenic hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are the major sources of fibrous matrix in cirrhosis. Because many factors interact to regulate expansion and regression of MF-HSC populations, efforts to prevent cirrhosis by targeting any one factor have had limited success, motivating research to identify mechanisms that integrate these diverse inputs. As key components of RNA regulons, RNA binding proteins (RBPs) may fulfill this function by orchestrating changes in the expression of multiple genes that must be coordinately regulated to affect the complex phenotypic modifications required for HSC transdifferentiation. Methods: We profiled the transcriptomes of quiescent and MF-HSC to identify RBPs that were differentially-expressed during HSC transdifferentiation, manipulated the expression of the most significantly induced RBP, insulin like growth factor 2 binding protein 3 (Igf2bp3), and evaluated transcriptomic and phenotypic effects. Results: Depleting Igf2bp3 changed the expression of thousands of HSC genes, including multiple targets of TGF-β signaling, and caused HSCs to reacquire a less proliferative, less myofibroblastic phenotype. RNA immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that some of these effects were mediated by direct physical interactions between Igf2bp3 and mRNAs that control proliferative activity and mesenchymal traits. Inhibiting TGF-β receptor-1 signaling revealed a microRNA-dependent mechanism that induces Igf2bp3. Conclusions: The aggregate results indicate that HSC transdifferentiation is ultimately dictated by Igf2bp3-dependent RNA regulons and thus, can be controlled simply by manipulating Igf2bp3.
MiR-135a Protects Vascular Endothelial Cells Against Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury by Inhibiting PHLPP2 to Activate PI3K/Akt Pathway
Authors: Yan Xiaodi , Li Wenqian , Yang Liye , Dong Wenwen , Chen Wei , Mao Yanfei , Xu Pingbo , Li Dongjie , Yuan Hongbin , Li Yong-Hua
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Loss of endothelial barrier function plays an important role in the development of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). This study aimed to investigate the effects of miR135a on VILI in a model of mechanical stretch (MS)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) injury. Methods: HUVECs were randomly assigned to 7 groups: blank, negative control (NC), NC+MS, miR135a over-expression (mi-miR135a), mi-miR135a + MS, miR135a silencing (si-miR135a) and si-miR135a + MS groups. MS was induced by subjecting cells to cyclic stretch at 20% stretch for 4 h. After 24 h, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by DCFH-DA fluorescence intensity. Apoptosis was measured using annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide assay with flow cytometry. Inflammatory cytokine levels were determined by ELISA. Barrier integrity was determined using FITC-conjugated dextran assay. Expression levels of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, Bcl-2 and Bax were examined using western blotting. The interaction between miR135a and PHLPP2 was evaluated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Results: Our results showed that MS reduced cell numbers, increased the number of apoptotic cells, increased ROS, barrier dysfunction and inflammatory cytokines in HUVECs, and reduced p-PI3K and p-Akt expression; silencing of miR135a worsened MS-induced HUVEC injury. However, miR135a over-expression protected HUVECs against MS-induced increases in apoptotic cells, ROS, barrier dysfunction and inflammatory cytokines, which were accompanied by activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Simultaneous silencing of miR135a and PHLPP2 partially salvaged the effects of miR135a silencing, and miR135a was found to interact with PHLPP2. Conclusion: miR135a may protect HUVECs from MS-induced injury by inhibiting PHLPP2 to activate PI3k/Akt signaling pathway.
The Macroeconomic Effects of Sovereign Risk Premium Shock: A Case Study for Turkey
Authors: GEBEŞOĞLU Fulya , VARLIK Nimet
Published: July 2018

The macroeconomic effects of sovereign risk premium
shocks in Turkey are investigated by employing Structural Vector Autoregression
Model for the period 2005:12 - 2017:3. The model includes EMBI+TR as an
indicator of sovereign risk premium for Turkey. The empirical results of the
model indicate that structural shocks in sovereign risk premium affect
macroeconomic variables negatively in Turkey. One standard deviation shock in
EMBI+TR results in devaluation of Turkish Lira, increase in price level,
contraction in credit volume, decline in industrial production index and
increase in current account balance. The impact of the negative changes in the
sovereign risk premium on the exchange rate and the credit is higher compared
to the other variables. It is concluded that results from variance
decomposition are consistent with the results of the impulse - response
analysis and the impact of structural shocks in sovereign risk premium on
credit is higher compared to other variables.
A MULTI-STAGE EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS OF OECD HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS
Authors: BEKAROĞLU Can , HEFFLEY Dennis
Published: July 2018

This
paper measures the multi-stage technical efficiency of healthcare systems across
OECD Countries between 2000 and 2011, based on a 34 country panel data set,
taking into account the impact of environmental variables and health
expenditure levels. We measure technical efficiencies in a two-stage
process—the production of health services and the subsequent provision of
health outcomes—using output-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). An
overall inefficiency of 3.05% across OECD countries translates into an average
loss of 1.38 years of life expectancy at birth and an additional 0.75 infant
deaths per 1000 live births, exacerbated by environmental variables and
inadequate healthcare spending, almost doubling the total OECD outcome loss to
5.65%, or 2.4 years of life expectancy and 1.5 infant deaths per 1000 live
births. Measured inefficiency is split 21%/79% between production and
provision. The type of inefficiencies exhibited, the solutions to these, and
the resulting policy implications vary greatly.
SEÇİLMİŞ ASYA ÜLKELERİNDE HANEHALKI TASARRUFLARI VE FİNANSAL GELİŞME
Authors: ESER Rüya , SİNAN Bahadır
Published: July 2018

Ülkelerin
büyüme sürecinde önemli bir unsur olan tasarrufların, çok sayıdaki
belirleyicilerden biri finansal siteminin gelişmişlik düzeyidir. Tasarruflar
ve finansal gelişme açısından gelişmekte olan Asya ülkelerinin başarısı dikkat
çekicidir. Bu çalışmada, 2000-2016 döneminde
gelişmekte olan Çin, Güney Kore, Malezya ve Tayland’da finansal sistemin
gelişmesinin tasarruflar üzerindeki rolü çeşitli toplulaştırılmış göstergeler kapsamında
incelenmektedir. Hanehalkı tasarruflarının finansal
sistem aracılığıyla artırılması konusunda ele alınan Asya ülkelerinde geçmişte
önemli çalışmalar yapılmış ve başarılı sonuçlar alınmıştır. Ancak,
daha sonra söz konusu ülkelerin hanehalkı borçlarında ciddi artışlar meydana
gelmiş, buna karşın hanehalkı tasarruflarında önemli düzeyde azalışlar olmuştur.
Bu değişimin temel nedeni, bu ülkelerin ihracata dayalı büyüme politikalarını
değiştirerek, tüketime dayalı büyüme politikalarına yönelmeleridir. İncelenen Asya
ülkelerinin finansal gelişmişlik düzeyleri ise hala Avrupa ve Dünya
ortalamasının altında kalması nedeniyle, finansal gelişmişlik düzeyinin tek
başına tasarruflar üzerinde etkili olmadığı, makroekonomik veya kurumsal
faktörlere bağlı olduğu değerlendirilmektedir.
Effect of temperature and salinity on mtDNA copy number of the ridgetail white prawn, Palaemon carinicauda Holthuis, 1950 (Decapoda, Palaemonidae)
Authors: Li Zhi H. , Zhang Pei , Ma Hang K. , Xu Wan Y. , Sun Jin Q. , Yan Bin L. , Zhang Qing Q. , Gao Huang
Published: July 2018

To explore the effect of temperature and salinity on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number of Palaemon carinicauda Holthuis, 1950, 5 temperature groups (10, 15, 20, 25 and 30°C) and 6 salinity groups (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35) were set up, respectively. Subsequently, the numbers of copies of mtDNA of samples from all groups were detected by the TaqMan probe method. The results showed that the mtDNA copy number in the temperature samples was 2388, 2366, 4158, 4805 and 6027 at the above-mentioned temperature values, respectively. Obviously, the number of mtDNA copies in the cell tends to increase as temperatures rise. In addition, the mtDNA copy numbers of the salinity samples was 2609, 2593, 3215, 3478, 2618 and 2709, respectively, at the experimental salinities as listed above. This indicates, that the copy numbers of mtDNA tend to increase at first, and then again to decrease as the salinity values rise and pass beyond a threshold.
Making Statesmen, Writing Culture: Ethnography, Observation, and Diplomatic Travel in Early Modern Venice
Authors: Taylor Kathryn
Published: July 2018

Numerous scholars have sought to locate the origins of social scientific research in the late-sixteenth-century ars apodemica, the northern European body of literature dedicated to methodizing educational travel. Little attention has been paid, however, to the earlier model of educational travel that emerged from sixteenth-century Venetian diplomatic culture. For many Venetian citizens and patricians, accompanying an ambassador on a foreign mission served as a cornerstone of their political education. Diplomatic travelers were encouraged to keep written accounts of their voyage. Numerous examples of these journals survive from the sixteenth century, largely following a standard formula and marked by an emphasis on the description of customs. This article examines the educational function of diplomatic travel in Venice and the practices of cultural description that emerged from diplomatic travel, arguing that Venetian diplomatic travel offers an earlier model for the methodization of travel—one with its own distinctive norms of observation.
A new species of small, long-snouted Hypogeophis Peters, 1880 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Indotyphlidae) from the highest elevations of the Seychelles island of Mahé
Authors: MADDOCK SIMON T. , WILKINSON MARK , GOWER DAVID J.
Published: July 2018

A new species of indotyphlid caecilian amphibian, Hypogeophis montanus sp. nov., is described based on a series of specimens from the Seychelles island of Mahé, collected from two localities in 2013 and 2015. The new species most closely resembles the Seychelles (Mahé) endemic H. brevis in being short (maximum known total length in life ca. 110 mm) and long snouted, but differs by having more vertebrae, a relatively smaller head, and substantially distinct mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences. Hypogeophis montanus sp. nov. is known from higher elevations (718–731 m) than H. brevis (ca. 350–650 m), and its elevationally restricted distribution on a single small island likely renders it threatened under IUCN Red List criteria. Hypogeophis montanus sp. nov. is the third species of small and long-snouted caecilian reported from the Seychelles. Along with H. brevis and H. pti, H. montanus sp. nov. is among the smallest known species of caecilian and possibly has the smallest global distribution.
Wind Shear Effects on Radiatively and Evaporatively Driven Stratocumulus Tops
Authors: Schulz Bernhard , Mellado Juan Pedro
Published: July 2018

Direct numerical simulations resolving meter and submeter scales in the cloud-top region of stratocumulus are used to investigate the interactions between a mean vertical wind shear and in-cloud turbulence driven by evaporative and radiative cooling. There are three major results. First, a critical velocity jump exists, above which shear significantly broadens the entrainment interfacial layer (EIL), enhances cloud-top cooling, and increases the mean entrainment velocity; shear effects are negligible when the velocity jump is below . Second, a depletion velocity jump exists, above which shear-enhanced mixing reduces cloud-top radiative cooling, thereby weakening the large convective motions; shear effects remain localized within the EIL when the velocity jump is below . The critical velocity jump and depletion velocity jump are provided as a function of in-cloud and free-tropospheric conditions, and one finds and for typical subtropical conditions. Third, the individual contributions to the mean entrainment velocity from mixing, radiative cooling, and evaporative cooling strongly depend on the choice of the reference height where the entrainment velocity is calculated. This result implies that the individual contributions to the mean entrainment velocity should be estimated at a comparable height while deriving entrainment-rate parameterizations. A strong shear alters substantially the magnitude and the height where these individual contributions reach their maxima, which further demonstrates the importance of shear on the dynamics of stratocumulus clouds.
Effects of Impact-Based Warnings and Behavioral Recommendations for Extreme Weather Events
Authors: Weyrich Philippe , Scolobig Anna , Bresch David N. , Patt Anthony
Published: July 2018

Bad weather continues not only to inflict damage on property but also to kill and injure people, despite significant advances in the predictive power of meteorological warnings. There is evidence that people tend to underreact to weather warning information, to a large extent because of insufficient understanding of the impacts that severe weather events can have, as well as to demonstrate the appropriate response behavior. A growing number of experts are suggesting that standard warning information should be augmented with additional information about these factors, but this has so far largely failed to take place. Past research studies have shown possible advantages of including impact-based warnings (IBWs) and behavioral recommendations (BRs) into the warning information, but the results are in part ambiguous, due to a failure to have tested for effects of the two kinds of information separately and in combination. Based on quantitative results from a survey experiment in Switzerland, this knowledge gap is addressed. Results of the research reported here indicate significant benefits from providing both sets of information together, in terms of improving both perception and understanding of warning and intended behavioral responses. When only one piece of information is given, BRs have a significant effect on both perception and intended response, whereas IBWs have a significant effect only on intended response. These findings offer empirical justification for the added expense and time associated with the more detailed hazard warnings.
Assessment of Ocular and Physiological Metrics to Discriminate Flight Phases in Real Light Aircraft
Authors: Scannella Sébastien , Peysakhovich Vsevolod , Ehrig Florian , Lepron Evelyne , Dehais Frédéric
Published: July 2018

Objective:

The purpose of the present study was to find psychophysiological proxies that are straightforward to use and could be implemented in actual flight conditions to accurately discriminate pilots’ workload levels.

Background:

Piloting an aircraft is a complex activity where cognitive limitations may jeopardize flight safety. There is a need to implement solutions to monitor pilots’ workload level to improve flight safety. There has been recent interest in combining psychophysiological measurements. Most of these studies were conducted in flight simulators at the group level, limiting the interpretation of the results.

Methods:

We conducted an experiment with 11 pilots performing two standard traffic patterns in a light aircraft. Five metrics were derived from their ocular and cardiac activities and were evaluated through three flight phases: takeoff, downwind, and landing.

Results:

Statistical analyses showed that the saccadic rate was the most efficient metric to distinguish between the three flight phases. In addition, a classifier trained on the ocular data collected from the first run predicted the flight phase within a second run with an accuracy of 75%. No gain in the classifier accuracy has been found by combining cardiac and ocular metrics.

Conclusions:

Ocular-based metrics may be more suitable than cardiac ones to provide relevant information on pilots’ flying activity in operational settings.

Applications:

Electrocardiographic and eye-tracking devices could be implemented in future cockpits as additional flight data for accident analysis, an objective pilot’s state evaluation for training, and proxies for human-machine interactions to improve flight safety.
The Poverty Reduction of Social Security and Means-Tested Transfers
Authors: Meyer Bruce D. , Wu Derek
Published: July 2018

This article is the fourth in a series to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the ILR Review. The series features articles that analyze the state of research and future directions for important themes this journal has featured over many years of publication.

Starting with Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) data from 2008 to 2013, the authors link administrative data from Social Security and five large means-tested transfers—Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), public assistance (PA), the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and housing assistance—to minimize errors within the SIPP data. Social Security cuts the poverty rate by a third—more than twice the combined effect of the five means-tested transfers. Among means-tested transfers, the EITC and SNAP have the largest effects. All programs except for the EITC sharply reduce deep poverty. The relative importance of these programs differs by family subgroup. SSI, PA, and housing assistance have the highest share of benefits going to the pre-transfer poor, whereas the EITC has the lowest. Finally, the SIPP survey data alone provide fairly accurate estimates for the overall population at the poverty line, though they understate the effects of Social Security, SNAP, and PA. Differences in effects are striking, however, at other income cutoffs and for specific family types.
Accounting for Social Processes in the Development of Diagnostic Classification Systems: Commentary on the “Standards and Guidelines for the Development of Diagnostic Nomenclatures and Alternatives in Mental Health Research and Practice”
Authors: Keeley Jared W.
Published: July 2018

Diagnostic classifications of mental disorders are complex systems that integrate both scientific and social priorities. The Task Force on Developing Humanistic Approaches to Psychological Diagnosis of the Society for Humanistic Psychology has released a set of guidelines intended to guide the development of mental health classifications. This commentary argues that the attention paid in the guidelines to social processes is a desirable and inherent component of the development of any classification. Social influences regarding the definition of the concepts and the processes by which people develop them are integrally intertwined, contrary to the common view that nonscientific factors should be excluded from classification systems as much as possible. These guidelines offer a much needed resource for developing future mental health classifications.
A proposed model for evaluating the impact of participating in trauma-focused research
Authors: Collings Steven J
Published: July 2018

This article describes the development of a model for assessing levels of risk in trauma-focused research, with evidence for the empirical validity of the model being provided by findings from a study of 438 undergraduate students who participated in a survey regarding past-year exposure to intimate partner violence. A minor increase in risk over minimal risk was found to constitute the modal risk category, with evidence for the empirical validity of the model being provided by the fact that levels of risk assessed by the model were associated with anticipated decreases in the proportion of positive cost–benefit ratios, with different levels of risk being predicted by a unique constellation of risk factors. These findings are discussed with respect to their implications for further research and in relation to the way in which the impact of trauma-focused research is conceptualised.
The integration of solid-solid phase change material with micro-channel flat plate heat pipe-based BIPV/T
Authors: Wang Zhangyuan , Huang Zicong , Chen Fucheng , Zhao Xudong , Guo Peng
Published: July 2018

In this paper, the influence of the solid-solid phase change material on the novel micro-channel flat-plate heat-pipe–based building integrated photovoltaic/thermal system has been investigated, which has been expected to store the excess heat, enhance the overall efficiency of the system and maintain the stable photovoltaic temperatures. The proposed system was divided into two parts, i.e. the outdoor part formed by flat-plate glass, photovoltaic panel, micro-channel flat-plate heat pipes, solid-solid phase change material layer and insulated material, and indoor part including the storage tank, water pump and storage batter. The experiments were conducted at the Guangdong University of Technology, China, to investigate the thermal and electrical performance of the proposed system. When the simulated radiation was at 300 W/m2 and water flow rate was at 600 L/h, the maximum average thermal, electrical and overall efficiency were found at 52.9%, 7.9% and 60.8%, respectively, when the xenon lamps were turned on, and the maximum average efficiency of 86.6% were found when the xenon lamps were turned off, indicating the most appropriate working condition of the proposed system due to the thermal storage and release of the solid-solid phase change material during the system operation. Compared with the previous studies of the conventional building integrated photovoltaic/thermal systems, it was found that the overall efficiency of the system averagely increased 5–30% and the daily water temperature difference of the system averagely increased 1.8–10.5℃, indicating that the solid-solid phase change material can significantly increase the thermal efficiency of the system.

Practical application The proposed micro-channel-flat-plate-heat pipe based BIPV/T (MCFPHP-BIPV/T) system with SS-PCM will be potentially used in buildings to provide amount of electricity and thermal energy. The generated electricity will be used by the residential electrical devices or connected to the grid, and the thermal energy can be used for hot water, even for space heating and cooling. The proposed building-integrated system can be assisted in realising the targets of energy saving and carbon-emission-reduction in buildings.
The surveillant consumer
Authors: Stark Luke , Levy Karen
Published: July 2018

We argue that modern technical and social infrastructures of surveillance have brought a novel subject position to prominence: the surveillant consumer. Surveillance has become a normalized mode of interpersonal relation that urges the person as consumer to manage others around her using surveillant products and services. We explore two configurations of this model: the consumer as observer, effectuated through products for use in the supervision of intimate relations as a component of a normalized duty of care; and the consumer as manager, effectuated through capacities for the customer to manage the labor of workers providing services to her. These models frequently intersect and hybridize as market logics overlap with intimate spheres: the surveillant consumer thus acts as an emotional manager of the experience of everyday surveillance. In turn, this managerial role reifies the equation of financial wealth with moral weight in a hierarchy of oversight, giving the wealthiest the most control and least accountability.
Predictive aspect-based sentiment classification of online tourist reviews
Authors: Afzaal Muhammad , Usman Muhammad , Fong Alvis
Published: July 2018

With the increase of online tourists reviews, discovering sentimental idea regarding a tourist place through the posted reviews is becoming a challenging task. The presence of various aspects discussed in user reviews makes it even harder to accurately extract and classify the sentiments. Aspect-based sentiment analysis aims to extract and classify user’s positive or negative orientation towards each aspect. Although several aspect-based sentiment classification methods have been proposed in the past, limited work has been targeted towards the automatic extraction of implicit, infrequent and co-referential aspects. Moreover, existing methods lack the ability to accurately classify the overall polarity of multi-aspect sentiments. This study aims to develop a predictive framework for aspect-based extraction and classification. The proposed framework utilises the semantic relations among review phrases to extract implicit and infrequent aspects for accurate sentiment predictions. Experiments have been performed using real-world data sets crawled from predominant tourist websites such as TripAdvisor and OpenTable. Experimental results and comparison with previously reported findings prove that the predictive framework not only extracts the aspects effectively but also improves the prediction accuracy of aspects.
Diagnosing Growth Constraints in Central Asia: The Case of the Kyrgyz Republic
Authors: Sydykova Meerim , Rodriguez Carlos
Published: July 2018

The Kyrgyz Republic is a country with a transitional economy. Its growth performance is constantly one of the lowest compared to the other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States. This weak performance is mainly caused by political instability and high corruption. Despite being a leading reformer in the region, the country has not done enough to solve its key problems. The current study employs the growth diagnostic approach proposed by Hausmann, Rodrik, and Velasco (2005, Growth diagnostics. Cambridge, MA: The John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University) to identify binding constraints on growth. This article finds that weak institutional performance, high corruption, a large share of the informal economy, and an inefficient energy sector are the most binding constraints on the country’s growth.
Seeing you in me: Preliminary evidence for perceptual overlap between self and close others
Authors: Ketay Sarah , Beck Lindsey A. , Riela Suzanne , Bailey Cristen , Aron Arthur
Published: July 2018

Inclusion of other in the self, a key principle of the self-expansion model, suggests that close others overlap with the self in terms of resources, perspectives, and identities. Research from behavioral, cognitive, and neural domains provides evidence for inclusion of other in the self; the present research extends prior theoretical and empirical work to a new, visual domain by investigating whether inclusion of other in the self applies to facial processing. In two reaction time (RT) experiments, participants viewed static (Study 1) and morphed (Study 2) facial images of themselves, their close friend (i.e., a close other), and a familiar celebrity (i.e., a non-close other). In Study 1, participants showed slower RTs when comparing their own image with their friend’s image than when comparing their own image with a celebrity’s image. In Study 2, participants showed slower RTs when their own image was morphed with their friend’s image than when their own image was morphed with the celebrity’s image. These results suggest that inclusion of close others in the self extends to visual processing. Implications and limitations are discussed.
Blood cardioplegia benefits only patients with a long cross-clamp time
Authors: Fedosova Maria , Kimose Hans-Henrik , Greisen Jacob Raben , Fast Peter , Gissel Marie Storebjerg , Jakobsen Carl-Johan
Published: July 2018

Introduction:

A clear advantage of blood versus crystalloid cardioplegia has not yet been observed in smaller population studies. The purpose of this article was to further investigate the clinical outcomes of blood versus crystalloid cardioplegia in a large propensity-matched cohort of patients who underwent cardiac surgery.

Methods:

The study was a single-centre study. Data was withdrawn from the Western Denmark Heart Registry, which comprises a perfusion section for each procedure. A total of 4,852 patients were propensity matched into crystalloid (CC) vs blood cardioplegia (BC) groups. The primary end points were creatinine kinase-MB (CKMB) elevation, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, dialysis, coronary angiography (CAG) and mortality (30 days and 6 months).

Results:

We found lower odds ratio in 30-day mortality in the BC group (OR 0.21; CI 0.06-0.68), but no difference in overall 6-month mortality. There was no difference in CKMB elevation, AMI, dialysis or stroke. Several end points were further analysed for different cross-clamp times. In the CC group, ventilation time above 600 minutes was seen more often in almost all cross-clamp time intervals (23.5 % vs 12.2 %; p<0.0001; χ2-test) and 6-month mortality was significantly higher when the cross-clamp time exceeded 210 minutes (64.3 vs 23.8; p=0.018; χ2-test).

Conclusions:

We did not find clear evidence of superiority of either type in the uncomplicated patient. When prolonged cross-clamp time or postoperative ventilation is expected, this study indicates that blood cardioplegia might be preferable.
Extubation of patients undergoing extracorporeal life support. A retrospective study
Authors: Ellouze Omar , Lamirel Julie , Perrot Justine , Missaoui Anis , Daily Theresa , Aho Serge , Petrosyan Andranik , Guinot Pierre Gregoire , Bouchot Oliver , Bouhemad Belaid
Published: July 2018

Introduction:

The use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is increasing worldwide, in particular for the management of refractory cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock and post cardiopulmonary bypass ventricular failure. Extubation of patients under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for respiratory failure is a growing practice for adult and pediatric patients, especially for lung transplantation candidates. Because of potential complications and, specifically, accidental arterial decannulation, extubation of patients under ECLS is not standard practice. Our goal was to evaluate the interest in patient extubation under ECLS.

Materials and methods:

We performed a monocentric, retrospective study of all ECLS cases between January 2014 and January 2016. We excluded patients who died within the first 48 hours of ECLS.

Results:

We analyzed 57 of the initial 109 patients included in the study. The initial SOFA score was higher in the non-extubated group under ECLS, without significant difference (8.6 ± 2.8 vs 7.2 ± 2.1, p=0.065). Patients who were not extubated had a higher rate of acquired ventilator pneumonia (61.9% vs 26.7%, p=0.03). Moreover, patients who were extubated under ECLS had better 30-day survival rates (73.3% vs 40.5%, p=0.04). In multivariate analyses, the independent factors associated with mortality were age, duration of ECLS and the lack of extubation under ECLS.

Conclusion:

Extubation of patients under ECLS is safe and feasible. Furthermore, in extubated patients, we observed fewer cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia and better 30-day survival rates.
Effects of backward gait training on balance, gross motor function, and gait in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review
Authors: Elnahhas Ahmed M , Elshennawy Shorouk , Aly Maya G
Published: July 2018

Objective:

To investigate the effects of backward gait training on balance, gross motor function, and gait parameters in children with cerebral palsy.

Data sources:

PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Science Direct, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and Google Scholar were searched up to May 2018.

Review methods:

Randomized controlled trials were included if they involved any form of backward gait training for children with cerebral palsy. Two authors independently screened articles, extracted data and assessed the methodological quality using PEDro scale, with any confliction resolved by the third author. Modified Sackett Scale was used to determine the level of evidence for each outcome.

Results:

Out of 1492 papers screened, 7 studies with 172 participants met the inclusion criteria. The duration of treatment ranged from 15 to 25 minutes, three times a week and for 6–12 weeks. The quality of studies ranged from good (two studies) to fair (four studies) and poor (one study), with a mean PEDro score of 4.7 out of 10. All included studies showed positive effects in the measured outcomes. The results showed level 1b evidence for balance when compared to no intervention, and for gross motor function, step length and walking speed when compared to same dose of forward gait training. The clinical heterogeneity of studies makes meta-analysis inappropriate.

Conclusion:

In children with cerebral palsy, there is moderate evidence that backward gait training improves balance, gross motor function, step length and walking velocity. More high-quality studies are needed.
Design, development, and testing of a lightweight hybrid robotic knee prosthesis
Authors: Lenzi Tommaso , Cempini Marco , Hargrove Levi , Kuiken Todd
Published: July 2018

We present a lightweight robotic knee prosthesis with a novel hybrid actuation system that enables passive and active operation modes. The proposed hybrid knee uses a spring-damper system in combination with an electric motor and transmission system, which can be engaged to provide a stair ambulation capability. In comparison to fully powered prostheses that power all ambulation activities, a hybrid knee prosthesis can achieve significant weight reduction by focusing the design of the actuator on a subset of activities without losing the ability to produce equivalent torque and mechanical power in the active mode. The hybrid knee prototype weighs 1.7 kg, including battery and control, and can provide up to 125 Nm of repetitive torque. Experiments with two transfemoral amputee subjects show that the proposed hybrid knee prosthesis can support walking on level ground in the passive mode, as well as stair ambulation with a reciprocal gait pattern in the active mode.
Conceptual rather than perceptual: Cross-modal binding of pitch sequencing is based on an underlying schematic structure
Authors: Antović Mihailo , Mitić Jana , Benecasa Naomi
Published: July 2018

Theories on the origins of cross-modal correspondences involving pitch speculate on statistical, semantically-mediated, and structural factors. We hypothesize that five apparently different conceptualizations of pitch sequencing are based on an underlying structure consisting of at least two conceptual primitives: discrete distance and unidirectional scalar change. A total of 184 children and adults were asked to rate 52 animations set to a tonal and non-tonal scale and presented as a square moving vertically, shrinking/expanding in size, narrowing/thickening in width, rotating clockwise/counterclockwise, and changing in hue. We varied the underlying structure of each visual stimulus by including or excluding one or both postulated primitives. The scores generally increased as one and then two primitives were added but did not differ across animation type (“pitch/height,” “pitch/size,” “pitch/width,” “pitch/rotation,” “pitch/hue”) if the same number of primitives was present. Overt movement may be preferred to static representations as the third primitive factor. Results suggest that cross-modal binding of pitch-sequencing is a conceptual task – based on an abstract schematic structure rather than lexicalizations from the mother tongue or lower-level perceptual clues.
Music engagement and well-being in Chinese adolescents: Emotional awareness, positive emotions, and negative emotions as mediating processes
Authors: Leung Man Chong , Cheung Rebecca Y. M.
Published: July 2018

The present study investigated the mediating processes of emotional awareness, positive emotions, and negative emotions between music engagement and well-being among Chinese adolescents. Through a process-oriented approach, the association between music engagement activities, including music listening, music instrument playing, and music training, and adolescents’ functioning were examined. A total of 1,318 Chinese adolescents at 12–15 years of age were recruited from secondary schools in Hong Kong. Findings based on structural equation modeling provided differential support for the association between music engagement and adolescents’ well-being. As cognitive and affective processes, both emotional awareness and emotions mediated between music training and well-being. Positive and negative emotions also mediated between music listening and adolescents’ well-being. Surprisingly, music instrument playing was not associated with emotional awareness, positive or negative emotions, or well-being. These findings supported previous frameworks and call attention to the emerging mechanisms underlying music engagement and well-being in adolescence.
Comparison of pre- and self-calibrated camera calibration models for UAS-derived nadir imagery for a SfM application
Authors: Griffiths David , Burningham Helene
Published: July 2018

Structure from Motion (SfM) is a tool being increasingly utilised in geosciences for high-resolution three-dimensional mapping of landscapes. However, a number of authors have demonstrated that broad-scale systematic deformations, in the form of ‘doming’ and ‘bowling’, can occur when applied to linear (low-amplitude, feature-limited) topographies. In such contexts, a more rigorous lens calibration and ground control point acquisition process is required, which means that application of SfM to environments such as tidal flats or desert plains can be challenging. Uncertainties in elevation models generated through SfM were investigated here in the context of the low elevation, micro-topographic environment of saltmarsh. Eight digital surface models (DSMs) were generated for a saltmarsh site in the Deben Estuary (Suffolk, UK) using imagery acquired by a low-cost consumer grade unmanned aerial system (UAS). The results provide clear illustration of the systematic bowling effect following self-calibration during bundle adjustment. This was due to poor estimations of distortion parameters in the camera model. Deformation was most pronounced when UAS-GPS data were used for georeferencing. The use of dGPS-determined ground control points improved the DSM, but did not fully mitigate the deformations. By introducing a pre-calibrated model, derived using a typical checkerboard routine, deformation was significantly mitigated. These results were tested in both the commercial Agisoft PhotoScan® and open-source Micmac software. When self-calibration was used, Micmac generated significantly more accurate DSMs because a more complex lens distortion model could be implemented. The results show that when mapping flat topographies, pre-calibration of the camera model out-performs self-calibration. However, if pre-calibration is not possible, a complex distortion model (such as Micmac’s Four model) can be utilised to limit deformation. The results of the software analysis concluded there is no one-size fits all software solution, and therefore customisable open-source systems offer many potential benefits.
Empirical Analysis of Traveling Backwards and Passenger Flows Reassignment on a Metro Network with Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) Data and Train Diagram
Authors: Xu Ruihua , Li Yanan , Zhu Wei , Li Sijie
Published: July 2018

Metro (subway) systems are becoming overcrowded in some of China’s mega-cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. As many passengers are unable to board trains on an overcrowded metro network during peak periods, some of them are willing to spend more time and energy by traveling backwards in order to secure a seat or even room for standing. Traditional studies on travel behavior analysis and transit assignment models seldom deal with this situation. We propose a methodology including the affinity propagation cluster method with between-within-proportion (BWP) index and an adaptive “0-1” model named the traveling backwards model (TBM) to identify the phenomenon of “traveling backwards” and to reassign passenger flows on a metro network using automatic fare collection (AFC) data and actual train diagrams. As a numerical example, this integrated approach is applied to the Beijing metro system. Our research shows that the affinity propagation cluster method with BWP index and implicit enumeration algorithm for TBM work well. TBM is a good replacement for the existing assignment model and travel behavior analysis, especially for those mega-cities’ networks in peak hours.