bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Customary law adoption in state law related to disaster mitigation of coastal area in Aceh Besar
Authors: Sulaiman S , Abdullah M A , Ahmad K B , Mansur T M , Susiana S , Roesa N , Sautunnida L
Published: March 2021

This article aims to answer how State Law regulates the existence of local wisdom related to disaster mitigation in coastal areas? How is the ideal adoption of customary law by State Law that will contribute to the disaster mitigation process of coastal area based on local wisdom? There is a most basic difference between State and Customary Law regarding disaster mitigation in coastal area. There are things that make it possible to reconcile through the harmonization of laws related to the legal functions positioning, both State Law and Customary Law. However, this step is not simple, because it must be preceded by the integration of Customary Law and State Law. This writing will apply a qualitative approach, by setting the law in an interdisciplinary study, allowing what is stated in law through fisheries assistance. Theoretically, this integration is known in the legal pluralism, where State Law recognizes the existence of Customary Law. Meanwhile, at the practical level, state legal instruments have begun to be built that allow recognition of Customary Law. With its position and function, there is a number of possible parts are used as meeting points between the pantang (taboo) areas and the fisheries conservation area. Conservation areas that are very strict, must be positioned in a social justice reality, as has been known and applied through pantang areas.
Development of a Single Camera Machine Vision System for Automatic 3D Size Detection
Authors: Tay Y. H. , Khairuddin U.
Published: March 2021

The rapid growth of global e-commerce prompts the need of efficient warehouse handling and logistics, forcing manual operations to be replaced with automatic systems. An example of automated solutions is the smart packaging system for boxes which can simulate optimized box arrangements in order to save space. Even though three-dimensional bin packing problem has been studied widely to optimize box arrangement, only a few studies have been done to automatically detect box sizes. Box size detection is important to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the packaging process as well as providing fast and accurate input for the box arrangement optimizer. Therefore, this paper presents the development of a machine vision system for automatic box size detection in 3D to support a smart packing simulator. The system uses a single camera and a platform covered with square grids prints. The box size detection algorithm was based on the localization of the platform area and it works by applying the bilateral filtering, binary thresholding and morphological image transform for the square grids feature extraction. To measure the box size, the length, width, and height of the boxes were detected by referencing it to the count of the square-grids. The volume of the boxes was further computed from the three-dimensional values obtained. The performance of the algorithm was then evaluated by calculating the error against the true value obtained from the manual measurements. The average accuracy for box size detection was 94.3% and analysis shows that the accuracy of the model was highly dependent on the size of the square grids on the platform. The result shows great potential of using a single camera system for automated 3D box size detection.
QFD applications for quality improvements online student learning
Authors: Assiddiqi M H , Vanany I
Published: March 2021

Online student learning is in great demand by students both junior and senior high school, but there are still dissatisfaction and complaints about online student learning, such as software factors, teaching factors, customer services, and learning materials. This study aims to identify the quality of online student learning based on the dissatisfaction of junior and senior high school students and to give improvement priority to improve the quality of online student learning using the QFD (Quality Function Development) method. QFD, which is arranged with 2 phases and each phase is arranged based on VOC (Voice of Customer) of junior and senior high school students. Phase 1 has two dimensions. The First dimension is the process dimension, and the second dimension is the factor dimension. Process dimension phase 1 was designed using VOC and online student learning process to get the rank of dissatisfaction of junior and senior high school students in the online student learning process. Factor dimension phase 1 was designed using VOC and online student learning critical factor to get the rank of junior and senior high school student dissatisfaction from online student learning factor while in phase 2 QFD was designed using online student learning critical factor and improvement programs to get priority ranking and effectiveness of these improvement activities. So that the two phases of QFD that have been designed can identify problems in the processes that occur in the online student learning and the factors that influence them and make effective improvements for junior and senior high school education.
Investment recommendation system on agriculture peer-to-peer lending websites
Authors: Ahmadiyah A S , Apriwibowo T I I , Raharja A E , Amosea S A , Radriyantami H A
Published: March 2021

With the growth of peer-to-peer investment websites, selecting the precise investment is tedious for amateur investors. This study aims to help the no-to-low experienced investors to identify which investments are prospects for them to invest their money. We have collected data from four trusted agriculture peer-to-peer lending websites then used a Decision Tree technique to train and test the data then classify them into a feasible to be invested or not. The result shows that both return and tenor parameters are the top two criteria to be considered. Moreover, the experiment result shows that our recommendation system has successfully performed at 98.29%.
Workstation and posture improvement in cutting machine process using virtual modelling
Authors: Studiyanti L , Septiani W , Aulia N
Published: March 2021

The activity of squatting and bending can cause an awkward working body posture and the risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD). This is mainly happening in the cutting machine process as a workstation that needs high precision so that it requires close eye contact with the workpiece. Through an initial assessment using an NBM questionnaire, it is obtained that almost all of the Cutting Operator’s body parts are uncomfortable after finish working. A further investigation is done towards two healthy males (height 169 ± 1.4 cm and weight 73.75 ± 2.5 kg) by capturing the current working body posture and then to be translated to a virtual model and virtual environment, by using JACK 8.2 software. The MSD risk parameters are using PEI by processing LBA, OWAS, and RULA data. Improvement of the posture is done by enhancing the workstation through virtual simulation so that the PEI on the two operators are decreasing from 2.81 and 2.43 to 1.52 and 1.12. Unexpected things happen in this semi-manual cutting workstation, the awkward posture is inevitable as seen in the RULA output of the improved workstation that did not show if the posture is safe from MSD risks. However, MSD risks can be reduced.
Selecting plant for joint venture scheme using linear programming and enterprise value conversion
Authors: Yulianto A Y , Pujawan I N , Vanany I
Published: March 2021

Every company in doing business expansion, especially business outside the core business of the previous business field, generally requires sufficient funding sources to ensure that the expansion goes as expected. Funding according to the needs is often a pretty difficult problem especially when faced with choices that have a significant cost impact. In this study we address the problem faced by a cement company in Indonesia that has extra capacity and potentially can be used to produce other products under a joint venture scheme. The company is faced with 3 choices of funding sources to support expansion into the building materials business, one of which was to sell a certain proportion of shares of the capacity of 8 factories that were not absorbed by the domestic sales target in Indonesia to strategic partners. This study attempt to find the most optimal capacity allocation of all factories in meeting the domestic sales volume target by considering the minimal transportation costs using the linear programming method and compare the remaining plant capacity with the magnitude of the converted plant capacity. The results are expected to support funding proposals to realize the vision of entering the building materials business in Indonesia.
Feasibility study of waste utilization facilities in cement factory for spent bleaching earth
Authors: Nugroho F F , Singgih M L
Published: March 2021

In this paper, the problem to be solved is a feasibility study for waste utilization facilities development, especially for spent bleaching by considering the market, technical, and economic aspects. The amount of spent bleaching produced by the palm oil industry in Indonesia reaches 750000 tons/year. Government regulation number 101 2014 categorized spent bleaching earth as hazardous waste with a code B 413. Therefore, the companies must carry out environmental protection and management for spent bleaching earth. This facility built to capture the market of spent bleaching earth waste disposal service, raw material substitution, and alternative fuel (coal). From the market perspective, the facility will capture about 7% market shares. Based on the technical aspect, the calcination process, kiln operational, and quality of clinker won’t be disrupted if the capacity of waste facilities is 7-8 tons per hour. Based on the Payback Period calculation, it needs 5.4 years to return the investment. From the Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return, it can be concluded that the development of waste utilization facility for spent bleaching is feasible. Based on sensitivity analysis the facilities must run above 60% capacity to make sure the facilities still feasible. Further research is expected to analyze the potential for other B3 waste which can managed by the facility and potential to enter end to end waste management business so it can have a greater impact to the company and society.
Analysis on acquisition of Philippine Civil Registry Documents and inclination towards paperless e-government
Authors: Villena L E A , Robielos R A C , Shiang Wei-Jung
Published: March 2021

In the Philippines, the Civil Registry Documents (CRD) acquired from Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) such as Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Certificate of No Marriage and Death Certificate are being used as one of the requirements in different transactions in academics, government, travel, employment, religious matters and other transactions (e.g. proof of identification, Title/Career advancement, etc.). The current acquisition ways of these Civil Registry Documents are through online, PSA Office, Travel Agency/Courier Company and Satellite/Mobile PSA Office. In this study, the different acquisition ways of Civil Registry Documents are analyzed through service blueprint. Furthermore, a survey was conducted to determine the satisfaction rate and preferences of the CRD acquirers and was analyzed through crosstabulations. With the help of the analyzed Service Blueprints, the possible problems that arises on each process of acquisition were identified. This paper proposed an instant, electronic (involves bar coding/QR code/Reference number), paperless and less time-consuming substitute to the existing ways of acquiring Civil Registry Documents.
University organizational culture mapping using Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument
Authors: Rahman A , Partiwi S G , Theopilus D S
Published: March 2021

Culture is the core element of an organization. Organizational culture must reflect the shared values and beliefs that show people meaning and provide them the guidance to working behaviour. The organizational culture should be constructed by following the expected future values and considering the common value of people in the organization. Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) is one of the structural approaches to evaluate the implementation of organizational culture. Nowadays, many of the public university in Indonesia has been transforming into a more productive and agile organization. The university transformation also needs redefine or evaluate their organization’s values as a part of strategic plan. Applying OCAI framework is necessary to assess the excellence of the transformation process in university. OCAI has applied in our university, i.e.: Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), to define the organizational culture for the higher agility of the organization in the future. More than 400 university employees, including lecturers and administration staffs, have involved in organization culture’s survey. The results of OCAI assessment showed that ITS tend to perform as the clan and the hierarchy type of organizational culture. While the management capabilities of ITS leaders showed that, the leadership characteristic is related to the clan culture.
Quantifying energy consumptioneandogreenhouse gass emissions of construction projects: A case study of Semarang -Bawen road project
Authors: Hatmoko J U D , Lendra L
Published: March 2021

Roads have significant impacts on the environment, economy and society, and the choice of pavement thus has broad implications. All phases of road development, from construction to operations, consume a vast amount of resources and produce waste and emissions. This study aims to examine energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a road construction project using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. Semarang-Bawen section road project was used as a case study, which uses Asphalt Concrete-Wearing Course (AC-WC) and Asphalt Concrete-Binder Course (AC-BC) layers for flexible pavement, and concrete slabs for rigid pavement. The methods used to estimate energy consumption and GHG emissions refers to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) procedure, i.e. the Energy Use and GHG Emissions for Pavement Construction, and Fuel Conversion Method. The results show energy consumption of the project for the flexible and rigid pavements are 1193.79 GJ and 952.056 GJ, respectively. This indicates that the flexible pavement contributes to CO2 emissions greater than the rigid one. The flexible pavement has a total emission of 89257.96 kgCO2/km, while the rigid pavement is of 70464.53 kgCO2/km. Based on these results it can be concluded that rigid pavement is considered more environmentally friendly than flexible pavement.
Effect of Reinforcement Materials and Immersion Mediums on Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Composites
Authors: Al-Salmani Mohanad R. , Alfalahi Ahmad H.M.
Published: March 2021

In this research, a non-reinforced epoxy and its composites which reinforced by fiber glass, polypropylene fiber and micro-silica oxide powder, with volume fraction (20%) were prepared, using a hand lay-up molding method. Impact strength, Surface hardness, and Bending strength tests were carried out for the specimens before and after immersion in tap water and ethanol. Before immersion, the results showed that adding fiber glass and polypropylene fiber to the polymer improved the mechanical properties while silica particles decreased it. On the other hand water absorption of the substance led to a negative effect on the mechanical properties of the composite material. The effect of ethanol was the highest.
Influence Different Substrates on the Sensing Performance of Copper Oxide Thin Films Synthesis via the Hydrothermal Method
Authors: Al-Jenaby Ahmad Z. , Ramizy Asmiet , Al-Samarai Abdul-Majeed E
Published: March 2021

We report the synthesis of CuO nanostructures on silicon(Si) and porous silicon (PS) substrate using hydrothermal method as seed layer and different reaction time (12 and 24) hour respectively. structure and sensing properties analysis of these nanostructures were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), (AFM) and FE-SEM analysis. all the obtained peaks in the XRD pattern are well matched with the monoclinic phase of CuO thin film prepared on silicon and pours silicon substrate with crystal sizes (25.2 to 11.6) nm and (21 to 9.9) nm for CuO/Si and CuO/PS respectively. Topography analysis studied by (AFM) and reveals that the grain size, roughness surface and root mean square of the prepared thin film decreases with the increase in the hydrothermal reaction time in both cases CuO / Si and CuO / PS. FESEM analysis, showed the morphological of film prepared at seed layer as seed-like structure, and change to nanosheets structure with increasing reaction time. EDX analysis revealed the chemical composition and elemental state of CuO nanoparticles. Gas sensor performance showed that thin films have good sensitivity properties but thin films deposited on porous substrates are better and amount to about 186%.
Some Estimates to Best Approximation of Functions by Fourier-Jacobi Differential Operators
Authors: Hameed Ehsan M , Aal-Rkhais Habeeb A , Majeed Salam J
Published: March 2021

In this paper, an extension of the idea of the best approximation in the Hölder spaces with respect to Fourier-Jacobi operators by moduli of smoothness is studied. A special form of the moduli of smoothness is considered to get a strong convergence. Further, advanced approaches of approximation and some direct and inverse results are proved. Moreover, the Jackson-type estimate of functions in Hölder spaces by Jacobi transformations to algebraic polynomials with generalized de la Vallée Poussin mean are established.
Study the Structure and Optical Properties of GNPs Doped WO3/PS by Spray Pyrolysis Deposition (SPD)
Authors: Hasan Saadallah F. , Al-Samarai Abdul-Majeed E , Obaid A. S. , Ramizy Asmiet
Published: March 2021

In this studied gold (Au) nanoparticles doped tungsten oxide (WO3) thin film was deposited on porous silicon (PS) substrate at the substrate temperature of 250°C by spray pyrolysis deposition method, with different Au doping concentration of (0, 1, 3, and 5%). The gold nanoparticles GNPs were prepared by using normal atmospheric air cold plasma. All films were annealed at 500°C for 1h. The X-ray diffraction peaks indicated that all films are polycrystalline with a hexagonal structure. The surface morphology was studied by AFM. The average grain size for pure thin film WO3 was about 61 nm, and it decreased to be about 43.2 nm with increases the doping ratios for the film deposited at 5% of Au. FESEM image all doped and undoped films showed homogenous pattern structure on the porous silicon. The thickness of films was obtained from the cross-section of the FESEM, which was 323±5 nm. A blue-shifted showed based on the photolumenses (PL) peak position calculated of WO3 as doping ratio increased, the bandgap for Au: WO3 films lies between (2.85 to 3.02) eV.
The Role of Teaching Methods Based e-learning Technologies in Iraq Higher Education Institutes
Authors: N. Fayadhm Etmad , Salih Bassim M. , Mohammed Omer K. Jasim
Published: March 2021

Currently, the world witnesses a major revolution in the world of communications and information technology, where technology permeated all aspects of social, learning and military life in both phases: public and private. This paper measures the rate of using teaching methods of e-learning technology in higher education Iraqi institutes; university of Fallujah is a sample of such institute. This paper used the descriptive analytical approach (DAA) in collecting, classifying gathering information for five colleges by taking 30 measurement coefficients that are compatible with teaching operation. The obtained results demonstrate that a number of lecturers and students have used the e-learning applications in the class management are extremely low rates. Finally, this study has resulted in a novel concept, usually called “change –resistance”.
High temperature oxidation of non equi-atomic Al5Cr12Fe35Mn28Ni20 high entropy alloy
Authors: Ali Mayar M , Abd ElMoamen S S , Gepreel Mohamed A H , Ahmed Hafiz A , Elrefaie Fawzi A
Published: March 2021

The Oxidation behavior of the Al5Cr12Fe35Mn28Ni20 high entropy alloy was investigated in air at temperatures 900 °C, 1000 °C and 1100 °C for 100 h isothermally. The oxidation kinetics at all temperatures obeys the parabolic rate law with an activation energy 100.6 kJ mol−1. The alloy was externally oxidized forming duplex layer consisted of manganese oxides that overlays Mn-Cr-Fe spinel oxides. While, it was observed that at 1000 °C and 1100 °C the samples were also oxidized internally forming Al2O3 deep in the alloy. The initial oxidation behavior of the alloy oxidized at 1000 °C for 1 and 24 h producing external scale of Mn3O4 overlaying Mn-Cr-Fe spinel oxide and Al2O3 precipitates.
Oxygen doping effect on wettability of diamond-like carbon films
Authors: Zarei Moghadam R , Ehsani M H , Rezagholipour Dizaji H , Kameli P , Jannesari M
Published: March 2021

DLC films were deposited on Ge substrates using direct ion beam deposition method, followed by investigating the influence of O2 doping on their morphological, electrical, and structural properties. The films were doped with oxygen under flow rates of 5, 10, 20, and 40 sccm (standard cubic centimeters per minute). The structure of the films was studied by Raman spectroscopy. Result showed that by increasing oxygen incorporation, sp2 content decreases, sp3 content increases, and the C-C bonding loses its order. The hydrophilicity of the layers was analyzed by the contact angle measuring experiment. The results showed that by increasing the O2 flow ratio from 5 to 40 sccm, the percentage of O2 increases from 1.1 to 3.9%. The water contact angle measurement showed that an increase in oxygen flow ratio results in a decrease in contact angle from 82.9° ± 2.1° to 50° ± 3°.
The natural hybridization between speciesLigularia nelumbifoliaandCremanthodium stenoglossum(Senecioneae, Asteraceae) suggests underdeveloped reproductive isolation and ambiguous intergeneric boundary
Authors: Hu Li , Yang Rui , Wang Yue-Hua , Gong Xun
Published: March 2021

Natural hybridization is frequent in plants and is considered an important factor facilitating speciation. The natural intergeneric hybridization between Ligularia and Cremanthodium was previously confirmed using a couple of DNA markers. However, the mechanism of this intergeneric hybridization and the role of reproductive isolation in the process of hybridization remain unclear. Here we used double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) to further quantify the occurrence of hybridization, the genetic structure of the hybrid population and the role of reproductive isolation between Ligularia nelumbifolia and Cremanthodium stenoglossum. The results based on the ddRAD-seq SNP data sets indicated that hybridization between L. nelumbifolia and C. stenoglossum was restricted to F1s, and no gene introgression was identified between these two species. STRUCTURE analysis and maximum likelihood (ML) tree results showed a slightly larger genetic contribution of L. nelumbifolia to putative hybrid F1s. We deduced that the reproductive isolation between these two parent species is not well-developed but still strong enough to maintain the genetic integrity of the species, and that their F1s are sterile or with low fertility. Given the poorly resolved phylogenetic relationship between Ligularia and Cremanthodium, the occurrence of natural hybridization between L. nelumbifolia and C. stenoglossum may provide new insights into the re-circumscription and re-delimitation of these two genera.
Bipartite graph-based approach for clustering of cell lines by gene expression–drug response associations
Authors: Chi Calvin , Ye Yuting , Chen Bin , Huang Haiyan
Published: March 2021

Motivation

In pharmacogenomic studies, the biological context of cell lines influences the predictive ability of drug-response models and the discovery of biomarkers. Thus, similar cell lines are often studied together based on prior knowledge of biological annotations. However, this selection approach is not scalable with the number of annotations, and the relationship between gene–drug association patterns and biological context may not be obvious.

Results

We present a procedure to compare cell lines based on their gene–drug association patterns. Starting with a grouping of cell lines from biological annotation, we model gene–drug association patterns for each group as a bipartite graph between genes and drugs. This is accomplished by applying sparse canonical correlation analysis (SCCA) to extract the gene–drug associations, and using the canonical vectors to construct the edge weights. Then, we introduce a nuclear norm-based dissimilarity measure to compare the bipartite graphs. Accompanying our procedure is a permutation test to evaluate the significance of similarity of cell line groups in terms of gene–drug associations. In the pharmacogenomic datasets CTRP2, GDSC2 and CCLE, hierarchical clustering of carcinoma groups based on this dissimilarity measure uniquely reveals clustering patterns driven by carcinoma subtype rather than primary site. Next, we show that the top associated drugs or genes from SCCA can be used to characterize the clustering patterns of haematopoietic and lymphoid malignancies. Finally, we confirm by simulation that when drug responses are linearly dependent on expression, our approach is the only one that can effectively infer the true hierarchy compared to existing approaches.

Availability and implementation

Bipartite graph-based hierarchical clustering is implemented in R and can be obtained from CRAN: https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=hierBipartite. The source code is available at https://github.com/CalvinTChi/hierBipartite. The datasets were derived from sources in the public domain, which are the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (https://portals.broadinstitute.org/ccle), the Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal (https://portals.broadinstitute.org/ctrp.v2.1/?page=#ctd2BodyHome), and the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (https://www.cancerrxgene.org/). These datasets can be downloaded using the PharmacoGx R package (https://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/PharmacoGx.html).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
ClassifyTE: a stacking-based prediction of hierarchical classification of transposable elements
Authors: Panta Manisha , Mishra Avdesh , Hoque Md Tamjidul , Atallah Joel
Published: March 2021

Motivation

Transposable Elements (TEs) or jumping genes are DNA sequences that have an intrinsic capability to move within a host genome from one genomic location to another. Studies show that the presence of a TE within or adjacent to a functional gene may alter its expression. TEs can also cause an increase in the rate of mutation and can even mediate duplications and large insertions and deletions in the genome, promoting gross genetic rearrangements. The proper classification of identified jumping genes is important for analyzing their genetic and evolutionary effects. An effective classifier, which can explain the role of TEs in germline and somatic evolution more accurately, is needed. In this study, we examine the performance of a variety of machine learning (ML) techniques and propose a robust method, ClassifyTE, for the hierarchical classification of TEs with high accuracy, using a stacking-based ML method.

Results

We propose a stacking-based approach for the hierarchical classification of TEs. When trained on three different benchmark datasets, our proposed system achieved 4%, 10.68% and 10.13% average percentage improvement (using the hF measure) compared to several state-of-the-art methods. We developed an end-to-end automated hierarchical classification tool based on the proposed approach, ClassifyTE, to classify TEs up to the super-family level. We further evaluated our method on a new TE library generated by a homology-based classification method and found relatively high concordance at higher taxonomic levels. Thus, ClassifyTE paves the way for a more accurate analysis of the role of TEs.

Availability and implementation

The source code and data are available at https://github.com/manisa/ClassifyTE.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
What Can Modeling Tell Us About Sustainable End Points for Neglected Tropical Diseases?
Authors: Minter Amanda , Pellis Lorenzo , Medley Graham F , Hollingsworth T Déirdre
Published: March 2021

As programs move closer toward the World Health Organization (WHO) goals of reduction in morbidity, elimination as a public health problem or elimination of transmission, countries will be faced with planning the next stages of surveillance and control in low prevalence settings. Mathematical models of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) will need to go beyond predicting the effect of different treatment programs on these goals and on to predicting whether the gains can be sustained. One of the most important challenges will be identifying the policy goal and the right constraints on interventions and surveillance over the long term, as a single policy option will not achieve all aims—for example, minimizing morbidity and minimizing costs cannot both be achieved. As NTDs move toward 2030 and beyond, more nuanced intervention choices will be informed by quantitative analyses which are adapted to national context.
Maternal, foetal and child consequences of immunosuppressive drugs during pregnancy in women with organ transplant: a review
Authors: Boulay Hugoline , Mazaud-Guittot Séverine , Supervielle Jeanne , Chemouny Jonathan M , Dardier Virginie , Lacroix Agnes , Dion Ludivine , Vigneau Cécile
Published: March 2021

Although pregnancy remains exceptional in women after heart, liver or lung transplant, obstetricians and nephrologists are regularly confronted with pregnancy in renal transplant recipients. National and international registries have described the epidemiology of maternal, foetal and neonatal complications, and transplantation societies have published recommendations on the monitoring of these high-risk pregnancies. In this review, we summarize the existing data on maternal and foetal complications of pregnancies in women after renal transplant, especially the management of immunosuppression. We also describe the few available data on the middle- and long-term outcomes of their children who were exposed in utero to immunosuppressive drugs.
A three-tiered intrusion detection system for industrial control systems
Authors: Anthi Eirini , Williams Lowri , Burnap Pete , Jones Kevin
Published: March 2021

This article presents three-tiered intrusion detection systems, which uses a supervised approach to detect cyber-attacks in industrial control systems networks. The proposed approach does not only aim to identify malicious packets on the network but also attempts to identify the general and finer grain attack type occurring on the network. This is key in the industrial control systems environment as the ability to identify exact attack types will lead to an increased response rate to the incident and the defence of the infrastructure. More specifically, the proposed system consists of three stages that aim to classify: (i) whether packets are malicious; (ii) the general attack type of malicious packets (e.g. Denial of Service); and (iii) finer-grained cyber-attacks (e.g. bad cyclic redundancy check, attack). The effectiveness of the proposed intrusion detection systems is evaluated on network data collected from a real industrial gas pipeline system. In addition, an insight is provided as to which features are most relevant in detecting such malicious behaviour. The performance of the system results in an F-measure of: (i) 87.4%, (ii) 74.5% and (iii) 41.2%, for each of the layers, respectively. This demonstrates that the proposed architecture can successfully distinguish whether network activity is malicious and detect which general attack was deployed.
Motor and process skills in activities of daily living in survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a cross-sectional study at hospital discharge
Authors: Christensen Jan , Eskildsen Signe Janum , Winkel Bo Gregers , Dichman Camilla Kofoed , Wagner Mette Kirstine
Published: March 2021

Aims

An individuals’ ability to perform basic activities of daily living (ADL) is said to be one of the strongest predictors of performance ability and independent living within the community. The Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) tool was designed to assess global functional level during ADL by investigating motor and process skills. The purpose of this study was to assess ADL performance ability by investigating motor and process skills in a consecutive cohort of adult survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at the time of discharge from hospital.

Methods and results 

This cross-sectional study uses data from a prospective cohort of cardiac arrest survivors admitted to the Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet. The specific data used in this study were obtained at the time of the days or the day before hospital discharge. Adult survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to cardiac causes were eligible for inclusion. Assessment of Motor and Process Skills was used to assess ADL performance ability by investigating motor and process skills. The ADL ability of 61 individuals was assessed. The mean ADL ability measures recorded were AMPS process 1.40 logits (0.48) and AMPS motor 1.82 logits (0.40). Based on the dichotomized AMPS results, 23% were most likely to need assistance to live independently in the community.

Conclusion 

Performance ability during ADL revealed difficulty in the performance of process skill and an increased need for rehabilitation among survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at the time of hospital discharge.
Escape, discard, and landing probability in multispecies Mediterranean bottom-trawl fishery
Authors: Mytilineou Chryssi , Herrmann Bent , Mantopoulou-Palouka Danai , Sala Antonello , Megalofonou Persefoni
Published: March 2021

Commercial bycatch species and their exploitation pattern in the Mediterranean trawl fishery are little studied. The present work examines the overall size-selection pattern, both regarding the trawl in the sea and the fisher onboard the vessel, for seven commercial bycatch species using different codends. The applied selection model predicted the escape, discard, and landing probability for each species simultaneously, a useful method for providing information important for fisheries management under the ecosystem approach. Among the studied codends, the 40-mm diamond mesh codend, still in use in non-EU Mediterranean fleets, was found unsuitable for the stocks in all cases. The 40-mm square mesh codend (40S) was found appropriate for blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), comber (Serranus cabrilla), and bogue (Boops boops) sustainability. The 50-mm diamond mesh codend (50D) was more suitable than the square mesh codend only for the spotted flounder (Citharus linguatula). Both the 40S and the 50D codends were appropriate for picarel (Spicara smaris), whereas none ensured sustainable exploitation for the blackbelly rosefish (Helicolenus dactylopterus), and the streaked gurnard (Chelidonichthys lastoviza). The results are discussed in relation to juvenile protection, discard mitigation, and fisher selection behaviour, important factors for the sustainability of stocks and fisheries in the Common Fishery Policy for the Mediterranean Sea.
When and how to legally challenge economic globalization: A comment on the German Constitutional Court’s false promise
Authors: Alter Karen J
Published: March 2021

The German Constitutional Court’s recent challenge to European law supremacy, and European lawyers’ strident critique of it, divert us from the conversation we need to have. The German Federal Constitutional Court wants us to focus on a surplus of European Union power, the European Court of Justice’s refusal to constrain it, the legal strategy of proportionality, and the goal of protecting national democracy. I defend national judicial pushback that is used to protect individual rights, democracy, and the national constitutional order. But demanding a German right to proportionality review of European Central Bank (ECB) monetary policy does not further these goals. Judicial review of monetary policy, especially in a context of radical uncertainty, makes little sense. Nor is the German Court’s doctrinal focus helpful as a way to address globalization. We need a new and different conversation focused on when and how constitutional review can effectively and helpfully push back against the adverse impacts that economic globalization is creating.
A nomogram to predict in-hospital mortality of neonates admitted to the intensive care unit
Authors: Huang Xihua , Liang Zhenyu , Li Tang , Lingna Yu , Zhu Wei , Li Huiyi
Published: March 2021

Background

To explore the influencing factors for in-hospital mortality in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to establish a predictive nomogram.

Methods

Neonatal data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database. Both univariate and multivariate logit binomial general linear models were used to analyse the factors influencing neonatal death. The area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to assess the predictive model, which was visualized by a nomogram.

Results

A total of 1258 neonates from the NICU in the MIMIC-III database were eligible for the study, including 1194 surviving patients and 64 deaths. Multivariate analysis showed that red cell distribution width (RDW) (odds ratio [OR] 0.813, p=0.003) and total bilirubin (TBIL; OR 0.644, p<0.001) had protective effects on neonatal in-hospital death, while lymphocytes (OR 1.205, p=0.025), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2; OR 1.294, p=0.016) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score (OR 1.483, p<0.001) were its independent risk factors. Based on this, the area under the curve of this predictive model was up to 0.865 (95% confidence interval 0.813 to 0.917), which was also confirmed by a nomogram.

Conclusions

The nomogram constructed suggests that RDW, TBIL, lymphocytes, PaCO2 and SOFA score are all significant predictors for in-hospital mortality in the NICU.
Interference-Free Method for Determination of Benzodiazepines in Urine Based on Restricted-Access Supramolecular Solvents and LC–MS-MS
Authors: Caballero-Casero Noelia , Mihretu Libargachew D , Rubio Soledad
Published: March 2021

Supramolecular solvents with restricted-access properties (SUPRAS-RAMs) are proposed as a new approach for integrating extraction and sample cleanup in the quantification of benzodiazepines (BDZs) in urine by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS-MS). The SUPRAS-RAM was synthesized in situ in the urine by the addition of 1-hexanol (154 µL) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) (600 µL). BDZ extraction was driven by both hydrogen bonds and dispersion interactions. Removal of proteins and polar macromolecules was performed by the action of the SUPRAS through chemical and physical mechanisms. Phospholipids were removed by precipitation during SUPRAS extract evaporation. A multivariate method was used for the optimization of the extraction process by applying Box–Behnken response surface design. The proposed method was validated according to the guiding principles of the European Commission Decision (2002/657/EC). Method detection and quantification limits for the target BDZs were in the intervals 0.21–0.85 and 0.67–2.79 ng/mL, respectively. The repeatability and reproducibility (expressed as relative standard deviations) were in the range 2–6% and 3–8%, respectively. The method enabled the simultaneous extraction of BDZs (recoveries in the range 84–105%) and the removal of matrix effects. The method was applied to the analysis of 13 urine samples using external calibration. Five out of 13 samples tested positive in alprazolam and lorazepam at concentrations in the range 5.4–74 ng/mL. The method allows simple and quick sample treatment with minimal solvent consumption while delivering accurate and precise data.
Transdural Spinal Cord Herniation: An Exceptional Complication of Thoracoscopic Discectomy: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
Authors: Pommier Benjamin , Grelat Michaël , Messerer Rostom , Portet Sylvain , Barrey Cédric Y
Published: March 2021

Thoracic disc herniation is a rare and severe condition, whose treatment may have complications including dural tears. Although benign in most cases, dural tears may induce iatrogenic transdural herniation of the spinal cord. The video demonstrates the diagnosis and surgical treatment of iatrogenic transdural herniation of the spinal cord. Here, we report a case of spinal cord herniation after thorascopic treatment of a thoracic disc herniation (DH). A 28-yr-old male presented with several years of left lower extremity weakness and was found to have a T6-7 DH. He underwent DH resection through video assisted mini-thoracotomy at another institution. In the immediate postoperative period, he developed a Brown-Sequard syndrome with left leg weakness. The surgeon decided not to reoperate and the patient improved with rehabilitation, allowing him to walk again. At 6 mo postop, he experienced sudden neurologic worsening but did not present to our clinic until 6 mo later. At this time, he had near complete paraplegia with bilateral lower extremity spasticity and central neuropathic pain. MRI showed a pseudo-meningocele and features suggesting a lateral spinal cord herniation. After a multidisciplinary meeting, we elected to perform a posterolateral approach with costo-arthro-pediculectomy and durotomy to repair the SC herniation. Immediately postop, the patient had a slight improvement in right lower extremity function, with decreased pain and spasticity. This case shows a transdural SC herniation, a rare complication after resection of DH. It is possible that an unreported or unrecognized dural tear at the time of the initial surgery, combined with the negative pressure of the thoracic cavity, put the patient at risk for this particular complication.

The authors state that the patient gave his informed consent.
Prioritizing the marginalized in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout
Authors: Braganza Brent B , Capulong Harvey Gain M , Gopez Jose Ma W , Gozum Ivan Efreaim A , Galang Joseph Renus F
Published: March 2021

A recent correspondence pointed out that indigenous people and other ethnic communities should be included in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. Indigenous communities carry a unique set of cultural beliefs and traditions that need to be preserved. This paper suggests that, aside from indigenous people, other marginalized sectors should also be included in the vaccine rollout by the government.
How Should Performance Signals Affect Contracts?
Authors: Chaigneau Pierre , Edmans Alex , Gottlieb Daniel
Published: March 2021

The informativeness principle states that a contract should depend on informative signals. This paper studies how it should do so. Signals indicating that the output distribution has shifted to the left (e.g., weak industry performance) reduce the threshold for the manager to be paid; those indicating that output is a precise measure of effort (e.g., low volatility) decrease high thresholds and increase low thresholds. Surprisingly, “good” signals of performance need not reduce the threshold. Applying our model to performance-based vesting, we show that performance measures should affect the strike price, rather than the number of vesting options, contrary to practice.
Development and acceptability of an educational video about a smoking cessation quitline for use in adult outpatient mental healthcare
Authors: Kazan Adina S , Perry Laura M , Atiya Wasef F , Voss Hallie M , Kim Seowoo , Easwar Sanjana , Mercorella Hannah N , Lewson Ashley , Rogers James L , Arnold Dodie , Raines Amanda M , Brown Lisanne , Moore Tonia , Hoerger Michael
Published: March 2021

Tobacco use is a leading preventable cause of early mortality and is prevalent among adults with mental health diagnoses, especially in the southern USA. Increasing cessation resources in outpatient mental health care and targeting individuals most receptive to changing their behavior may improve cessation. Drawing on the transtheoretical model, our goals were to develop an educational video about the Louisiana Tobacco Quitline and evaluate its acceptability. We designed the video with knowledge derived from Louisiana-specific data (2016 Louisiana Adult Tobacco Survey, N = 6,469) and stakeholder feedback. Bivariate associations between demographic/tobacco-use characteristics and participants’ stage of quitting (preparation phase vs. nonpreparation phase) were conducted, which informed design elements of the video. Four stakeholder advisory board meetings involving current smokers, mental health clinicians, and public health advocates convened to provide iterative feedback on the intervention. Our stakeholder advisory board (n = 10) and external stakeholders (n = 20) evaluated intervention acceptability. We found that 17.9% of Louisiana adults were current smokers, with 46.9% of them in the preparation phase of quitting. Using insights from data and stakeholders, we succeeded in producing a 2-min video about the Louisiana Tobacco Quitline which incorporated three themes identified as important by stakeholders: positivity, relatability, and approachability. Supporting acceptability, 96.7% of stakeholders rated the video as helpful and engaging. This study demonstrates the acceptability of combining theory, existing data, and iterative stakeholder feedback to develop a quitline educational video. Future research should examine whether the video can be used to reduce tobacco use.
The Surviving Sepsis Campaign: Fluid Resuscitation and Vasopressor Therapy Research Priorities in Adult Patients
Authors: Lat Ishaq , Coopersmith Craig M. , De Backer Daniel
Published: March 2021

OBJECTIVE:

Expand upon the priorities of fluid resuscitation and vasopressor therapy research priorities identified by a group of experts assigned by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.

DATA SOURCES:

Original article, literature search.

STUDY SELECTION:

Several members of the original task force with expertise specific to the area of fluid resuscitation and vasopressor therapy.

DATA EXTRACTION:

None.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

None.

CONCLUSION:

In the second of a series of manuscripts subsequent to the original article, members with expertise in the subjects expound upon the three identified priorities related to fluid resuscitation and vasopressor therapies. This analysis summarizes what is known and what were identified as ongoing and future research.