bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Make Fossil Fuels Great Again? The Paris Agreement, Trump, and the US Fossil Fuel Industry
Authors: Hermwille Lukas , Sanderink Lisa
Published: October 2019

Theoretical advances suggest that international governance in general and the Paris Agreement in particular provide a strong signal guiding sociotechnical systems toward decarbonization. We assess this signal and its effects empirically, by examining the struggle of competing narratives as present in the communications of leading US fossil fuel industry associations and companies. The results are then discussed in the context of the national and international climate and energy policy debates in a study period from late 2014 until the announcement of withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in June 2017. We find that the Paris Agreement has institutionalized a narrative paradigm that is surprisingly resilient. While the election of Donald Trump and his climate and energy policy led to a narrative shift in the coal industry, the oil and gas industry remained conspicuously silent in its immediate response and maintained its narrative strategies despite its alignment with the Paris Agreement.
Brain Damage Associated with Impaired Sentence Processing in Acute Aphasia
Authors: Kristinsson Sigfus , Thors Helga , Yourganov Grigori , Magnusdottir Sigridur , Hjaltason Haukur , Stark Brielle C. , Basilakos Alexandra , den Ouden Dirk-Bart , Bonilha Leo , Rorden Chris , Hickok Gregory , Hillis Argye , Fridriksson Julius
Published: October 2019

Left-hemisphere brain damage commonly affects patients' abilities to produce and comprehend syntactic structures, a condition typically referred to as “agrammatism.” The neural correlates of agrammatism remain disputed in the literature, and distributed areas have been implicated as important predictors of performance, for example, Broca's area, anterior temporal areas, and temporo-parietal areas. We examined the association between damage to specific language-related ROIs and impaired syntactic processing in acute aphasia. We hypothesized that damage to the posterior middle temporal gyrus, and not Broca's area, would predict syntactic processing abilities. One hundred four individuals with acute aphasia (<20 days poststroke) were included in the study. Structural MRI scans were obtained, and all participants completed a 45-item sentence–picture matching task. We performed an ROI-based stepwise regression analyses to examine the relation between cortical brain damage and impaired comprehension of canonical and noncanonical sentences. Damage to the posterior middle temporal gyrus was the strongest predictor for overall task performance and performance on noncanonical sentences. Damage to the angular gyrus was the strongest predictor for performance on canonical sentences, and damage to the posterior superior temporal gyrus predicted noncanonical scores when performance on canonical sentences was included as a cofactor. Overall, our models showed that damage to temporo-parietal and posterior temporal areas was associated with impaired syntactic comprehension. Our results indicate that the temporo-parietal area is crucially implicated in complex syntactic processing, whereas the role of Broca's area may be complementary.
Diagnosing Object Agreement vs. Clitic Doubling: An Inuit Case Study
Authors: Yuan Michelle
Published: October 2019

Much recent literature has focused on whether the verbal agreement morphology cross-referencing objects is true φ-agreement or clitic doubling. I address this question on the basis of comparative data from related Inuit languages, Inuktitut and Kalaallisut (West Greenlandic), and argue that both possibilities are attested in Inuit. Evidence for this claim comes from diverging syntactic and semantic properties of the object DPs encoded by this cross-referencing morphology. I demonstrate that object DPs in Inuktitut display various properties mirroring the behavior of clitic-doubled objects crosslinguistically, while their counterparts in Kalaallisut display none of these properties, indicating genuine φ-agreement rather than clitic doubling. Crucially, this distinction cannot be detected morphologically, as the relevant cross-referencing morphemes are uniform across Inuit. Therefore, this article cautions against the reliability of canonical morphological diagnostics for (agreement) affixes vs. clitics.
Price Effects of Nonprofit College and University Mergers
Authors: Russell Lauren
Published: October 2019

Nonprofit colleges and universities have merged across the United States citing economies of scale and scope. Yet whether these mergers raise prices has not been empirically assessed. Using a retrospective merger evaluation approach, I estimate that the average merger between 2000 and 2015 increased tuition and fees by 5% to 7% relative to nonmerging institutions in the same state and sector (public or nonprofit). Effects on net prices are estimated imprecisely, but the results are suggestive that nonprofit colleges use mergers to increase price discrimination.
Job Polarization and Jobless Recoveries
Authors: Jaimovich Nir , Siu Henry E.
Published: October 2019

Job polarization refers to the shrinking share of employment in middle-skill, routine occupations experienced over the past 35 years. Jobless recoveries refers to the slow rebound in aggregate employment following recent recessions despite recoveries in aggregate output. We show how these two phenomena are related. First, essentially all employment loss in routine occupations occurs in economic downturns. Second, jobless recoveries in the aggregate can be accounted for by jobless recoveries in the routine occupations that are disappearing.
Low intrasexual competitiveness and decreasing testosterone in human males (Homo sapiens): the adaptive meaning
Authors: Borráz-León Javier I. , Cerda-Molina Ana Lilia , Rantala Markus J. , Mayagoitia-Novales Lilian , Contreras-Garduño Jorge
Published: October 2019

The development of indirect mechanisms of intrasexual competition (e.g., visual identification of possible rivals) could be related to personality traits such as aggressiveness and self-esteem. However, the study of endocrine changes associated to indirect mechanisms of intrasexual competition is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in testosterone levels after a rival choice test in men and how intrasexual competitiveness, aggressiveness, and self-esteem modulate these changes. A group of 160 healthy men answered four personality questionnaires, participated in a rival choice test, and donated saliva samples to measure the changes in their testosterone levels. We found a significant decrease in testosterone levels of men with lower intrasexual competitiveness, but testosterone levels remained stables in competitive men. Non-significant results were found for aggressiveness and self-esteem. These decreases in testosterone levels could be interpreted as an adaptation aimed to reduce costs in male-male contests in Western modern societies.
A new genus of the Monstrilloida (Copepoda) with large rostral process and metasomal spines, and redescription of Monstrilla spinosa Park, 1967
Authors: Suárez-Morales E.
Published: October 2019

The genus Monstrilla Dana, 1849 is one of the most diverse of the copepod order Monstrilloida and has a worldwide distribution. A new genus, Spinomonstrilla n. gen. is proposed for Monstrilla spinosa Park, 1967 from Canada and California. Spinomonstrilla spinosa (Park, 1970), formerly M. spinosa, the type species of the new genus, is redescribed from type specimens. The new genus shows a unique set of conspicuous characters in both males and females that clearly diverge from all other monstrilloids. It can be recognized by the presence of a large rostral process and paired dorsal metasomal spiniform processes; the female antennule structure and setation diverge from the usual monstrilloid pattern; its body shows a unique ornamentation pattern. These characters allow an easy recognition of members of Spinomonstrilla from all other Monstrilloida.
‘Mutual Flourishing’ in the Church of England: Learning from St Thomas Aquinas
Authors: Thomas Gabrielle
Published: October 2019

This article investigates potential learning for the Church of England with regard to ‘mutual flourishing’. It begins by summarising the findings from recent research, which employs the principles of receptive ecumenism to explore women’s experiences of working in English churches. During this research, ‘mutual flourishing’ (as described in the ‘Five Guiding Principles’) was identified repeatedly, as an area of practice which is a ‘live’ wound in the life of the Church of England. The article moves on to discuss the theme of friendship in the theology of Thomas Aquinas, arguing that Thomas’s particular approach to friendship, if appropriated prudently, could contribute to healing the ‘wound’ identified during the research. The final phase moves on to suggest what it might mean in practice to appropriate Thomas’s theology of friendship in the life of the Church of England.
Kristeva’s Rewriting of Totem and Taboo and Religious Fundamentalism
Authors: Oliver Kelly
Published: October 2019

With the upsurge in various forms of religion, especially dogmatic forms that kill in the name of good versus evil, there is an urgent need for intellectuals to acknowledge and analyze the role of religion in contemporary culture and politics. If there is to be any hope for peace, we need to understand how and why religion becomes the justification for violence. In a world where religious intolerance is growing, and the divide between the secular and the religious seems to be expanding, Julia Kristeva’s writings bridge the gap and once again provide a path where others have seen only an impasse. Her approach is unique in its insistent attempt to understand the violence both contained and unleashed by religion. Moreover, she rearticulates a notion of the sacred apart from religious dogmatism, a sense of the sacred that is precisely lacking in fundamentalism.
Popillia biguttata (Wiedemann in Wiedemann & Germar, 1821) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) established on New Guinea? With an illustrated key to Sundaland Popillia Dejean species
Authors: TELNOV DMITRY , ZORN CARSTEN
Published: October 2019

Of the megadiverse Old-World genus Popillia Dejean, 1821, only seven species are so far recorded from the Sunda Islands (see checklist). The ruteline scarab beetle Popillia biguttata (Wiedemann in Wiedemann & Germar, 1821) was originally described from, and was until now known only from Java (Greater Sunda Islands). In 2018, specimens of this species were found in northern New Guinea, far outside its native range, in mixed autochthonous and invasive vegetation.
A Localized and Efficient System for Smart Shopping Using Internet of Things
Authors: Ashokkumar K. , Amirtha K. , Akshaya G.
Published: October 2019

A smart object can be any object that is connected to the internet and its used for any specific use. Numerous applications can be performed by making use of these smart objects. IoT is used in various applications and has obtained an immense growth in this technical era. Use of IoT
in shopping can be of great use. Various research works have been propped to design various applications that could be used for smart shopping. In this paper, an RFID tag is attached to each product which consists of the information about the product. When a user tends to shop for a particular
product he enters his wish list in the application provided in his smartphone. The application gives him the shops where the product is readily available and also gives the entire comparison of the product in all the possible shops. Some of the comparisons that are specified are the price
difference, the location of the shop, the timings when the shop will be open and lots more. The user can compare all the possible comparisons and decide which shop he can buy the product. The performance evaluation of the application is done and numerous parameters are a measure to make it
an efficient smart shopping system.
Cost Effective Robotic System Using Arduino
Authors: Naga Mani Rahul T. , Teja Reddy K. , Viji Amutha Mary A.
Published: October 2019

Robotics these days is winding up progressively well known because of assorted applications. The framework executes Inverse Kinematics of a Robotic Arm and improves its working utilizing Artificial Intelligence, by methods for item following. It will accomplish the objective of picking
and setting the ideal item. Continuous framework is utilized to accomplish complex equipment usefulness. The capacity to self-repeat is one of the unmistakable highlights of living life forms. Robots equipped self-replication would profoundly affect the field of apply autonomy by enhancing
lifetime and vigor. The point of this diary is to wipe out the manual control for item arranging framework. Robot arm structure in this exploration utilizes two joints, three connections and servo engines to drive. Microcontroller is utilized to create required PWM motion for servo engines.
In this exploration the position control of robot arm was planned by utilizing kinematic control techniques. Along these lines, kinematic strategies can clarify the investigative depiction of the geometry movement of the controller with reference to a robot facilitate framework settled to
an edge, without thought of the powers or the minutes causing the developments. For arranging framework, Metal finder is utilized to identify the metal or non-metal. This position control of pick and place robot arm is completely tried and the outcome is gotten all the more exactly. In this
modern condition taking care of with certain gear will require total exactness such sort of work are being finished by mechanical robots. We are proposing an adjusted technique for machine learning for the modern robots by utilizing Arduino UNO. And furthermore we are taking a shot at replicator
display for further more straightforward plan and further by we are planning model that could clarify the working of proposed model as further of replicator.
Discovering Unpredictable Changes in Business Process
Authors: Nikhilsai  , Sanjay  , Jancy S.
Published: October 2019

Early recognition of business process changes empowers chiefs to recognize and follow up on changes that may some way or another influence procedure execution. Business process detection refers to a group of methods to detect changes in a business process by analyzing event logs extracted
from the systems that support the execution of the process. Existing strategies for business process float discovery depend on an explorative examination of a possibly vast element space and now and again they expect clients to physically recognize explicit highlights that portray the float.
Contingent upon the investigated highlight space, these strategies miss different sorts of changes. Additionally, they are either intended to identify sudden floats or continuous floats yet not both. This paper proposes a robotized and factually grounded strategy for recognizing sudden and
continuous business process floats under a brought together system.
Big Data Analytics of Geo-Social Media on Planning and Real-Time Decisions
Authors: Dhamodaran S. , Mahalakshmi G. , Harika P. , Refonaa J. , AshokKumar K.
Published: October 2019

The authorities are to be considered to make a real-time decision and future planning by various analyzing geo-social media posts in Geo-social Network. However, there are millions of Geo-social Network users who are producing overwhelming of data, called “Big Data” that
is challenging to be analyzed and make the required real-time decisions. In our proposed system proposal of the efficient system for inquiring Geo-social Networks and harvesting the data as well as user’s location information (Dhamodaran, S. and Lakshmi, M., 2017. Design and Analysis
of Spatial-Temporal Model Using Hydrological Techniques. IEEE International Conference on Computing of Power, Energy and Communication. pp.1–4). System architecture is proposed that processes an abundant amount of various social networks’ of data to monitor. Earth events,
incidents, medical diseases, user trends, and views to make future real-time decisions and facilitate future planning (Dhamodarn, S., et al., Identification of User Poi in Spatial Data Using Android Application. International Conference on Computation of Power, Energy Information and Communication
(ICCPEIC), IEEE. ISBN: 978-1-5090-0901-5). Twitter and Flickr have been analyzed using the proposed architecture in order to identify current events or disasters, such as earthquakes, snow, Ebola virus, and fires. The system is evaluated with respect to an efficiency of data while considering
the system throughput.
A Resourceful Information Collecting System Using Smart Black Box
Authors: Usha Nandini D. , Sathyabama Krishna R. , Nithya M. , Pavithra R.
Published: October 2019

This paper presents intelligent method to collect safety information regarding the accident by means of Smart Black Box. When the information is needed regarding the accident that happened earlier, investigators seek for evidences non-systematically. The systematic approach makes use
of an intelligent black box that analyzes and collects the information of neighbouring vehicles while driving. Initially, the vehicle that is responsible for an accident is identified. The colour of an image of the vehicle is converted into grayscale. The converted image is filtered using
the bilateral filtering method. The algorithm used for detecting the edges of the license plate is canny edge detection algorithm. It is extracted and sent to the server which produces the stored video sequence in the created application. The functionality of the Internet of Things is used
to receive the request message and respond to that message to the server via GSM respectively.
An Alternative Procedure for Selection of Induction Motor for Electric Vehicle Application
Authors: Phatak Jyothi P. , Venkatesha L. , Raviprasad C. S.
Published: October 2019

The selection of motor is one of the significant factors in Electric Vehicle design. When the motor is selected based on the conventional method, its performance during starting of the EV is met but it may fail in other operating regions of the driving cycle. This is because, acceleration
requirements assume zero initial speed conditions and the requirements with different initial speeds is not accounted in the conventional method. This paper discusses an alternative procedure to compute the ratings of induction motor. The preliminary method to compute the ratings is carried
out based on vehicle performance requirements. The improvisation techniques in the computation are then adopted to get required acceleration and transient torque capabilities of motor to meet the driving cycle requirements. The procedure is illustrated through simulation studies using MAT
lab software.
A Hybrid Model for Topic Modeling Using Latent Dirichlet Allocation and Feature Selection Method
Authors: Christy A. , Praveena Anto , Shabu Jany
Published: October 2019

In this information age, Knowledge discovery and pattern matching plays a significant role. Topic Modeling, an area of Text mining is used detecting hidden patterns in a document collection. Topic Modeling and Document Clustering are two important key terms which are similar in concepts
and functionality. In this paper, topic modeling is carried out using Latent Dirichlet Allocation-Brute Force Method (LDA-BF), Latent Dirichlet Allocation-Back Tracking (LDA-BT), Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) method and Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (NMF) method. A hybrid model is proposed
which uses Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) for extracting feature terms and Feature Selection (FS) method for feature reduction. The efficiency of document clustering depends upon the selection of good features. Topic modeling is performed by enriching the good features obtained through
feature selection method. The proposed hybrid model produces improved accuracy than K-Means clustering method.
Factors Affecting Employee Attrition and Predictive Modelling Using IBM HR Data
Authors: Khan Emad Afaq , Hayat Khan Sumaira Muhammad
Published: October 2019

Attrition can be defined as the gradual reduction of a member or person in an organization due to retirement, resignation, or death. The loss can be defined as the number of employees leaving the organization, including voluntary and involuntary resignations. This study is about identifying
the factors that affect the attrition and establishing a predictive model for employee attrition. The study first focuses on the problem statement and a breakdown on what attrition does to the organization. Followed by a detailed conceptual breakdown on attrition which is then discussed in
the light of predictive modeling with the past supporting researches. The research involves data preprocessing with chi square versus logistic regression for feature selection, machine learning models and their comparison using the confusion matrix, precision, recall and f1-scores.
The best results obtained was the logistic regression model with feature selection and the accuracy of the model is 86% with a 98% recall for the class 1 of attrition. The researcher wants to change the view on how attrition problem is tackled. Rather than knowing who to retain, the organization
should know who to hire. This research sets a ground rule and tries to change the perspective on tackling the attrition problem.
Optimal Series Capacitor Compensation for Transmission Lines
Authors: Hiew Chun Lim , Lukose Jacqueline
Published: October 2019

Nowadays, voltage stability issues are the main problems around the world and therefore it is important that to maintain stable voltage stability. Series capacitor compensation plays an important role in the transmission line because it can improve the voltage stability as compared
to shunt compensation. The Thyristor-Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC) is selected in this project for providing capacitor compensation because its ability to control the amount of compensation in the transmission line, and operating in three different mode of region, which are resonance,
capacitive, and inductive regions. The Fast Voltage Stability Index (FVSI) is used to determine the system’s stability and determine the weakest line in the system for TCSC placement. The TCSC sizing is optimized by using Differential Evolution (DE) optimization technique. All these
processes are simulated on Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineer (IEEE) 14-bus test system by using MATLAB. The proposed methodology was carried out in few tests, which are system contingency test, line outage test, power loss test, voltage profile improvement test and variable
TCSC location. Based on the results, the overall voltage stability of the system was improved. The voltage magnitude for each bus had improved and the total power losses also reduced. Therefore, the optimization is successful and the study’s aim is achieved.
Optimization of Total Harmonic Distortion in Multilevel Photo Voltaic Inverters Using Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Fung Wong Chen , Selvaperumal Sathish Kumar , Lakshmanan Ravi
Published: October 2019

In this research, an optimization technique known as Genetic Algorithm is applied to multilevel PV inverters in order to design a Total Harmonic Distortion system with reduced harmonics content as well as able to determine the optimal switching angle while maintaining the required fundamental
voltage at the same time. The optimization technique can be implemented on any number of levels of multilevel inverters. For instance, an inverter having 7-level configuration is considered as the initial scenario for the upcoming simulations. The working principle of the Genetic Algorithm
along with the functionality of the Graphical User Interface system is constructed and analyzed using MATLAB simulation environment. The result of the implemented optimization technique shows the optimal switching angles at various modulation indices as well as the minimum Total Harmonic Distortion
of the system. In short, the purpose of the implemented system was greatly achieved in accordance to the set objectives and further improved its efficiency upon successfully overcoming the limitations of previous research works.
Privacy Prevention in Healthcare Data Using Big Data
Authors: Aroul Canessane R. , Albert Mayan J. , DhanaLakshmi R. , Singh Ragini , Bhowmik Sushmita
Published: October 2019

The use of the patient’s information in biomedical research or healthcare research is increasing rapidly. We are using big data to generate and collect a large amount of personal information of patients. The security of patients individual data have turned into an extraordinary
threat as it might prompt spillage of delicate data which can put the patient’s protection in danger. There are various measures which have been taken to protect the data from attack. The relevant paper reviews relevant topics in the context of healthcare research. We will discuss the
consequences of big data privacy in healthcare research and a better way to improve the data privacy in healthcare research or biomedical research.
MR Brain Image Segmentation Using k-Means Clustering and Expectation Maximization
Authors: Naganandhini S. , Shanmugavadivu P. , Sivakumar V.
Published: October 2019

Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI) for brain play an important role to identify the disease, dysfunction or disorder of human brain. These images are the primary source to study, analyse and diagnose the anatomy of the brain. This paper presents a new combinatorial technique titled, “MR
Brain Image Segmentation using k-Means Clustering and Expectation Maximization (MRB-KMEM)” that performs skull stripping, impulse noise removal, segmentation of brain tissues and classification of brain images. The skull is removed using the technique of morphology-bound brain segmentation
and Progressive Switching Median Filter (PSMF) is used to suppress brain image distortion. Further, brain tissues segmentation into white matter and grey matter is performed by KM-EM. The research outcomes can be used to study the features of a brain, its defects and to detect Alzheimer’s
disease.
Spontaneous Appearance of Nanoclusters (Cu)n and (Cu2O)n
Authors: Iskakova Kulpash , Akhmaltdinov Rif , Kuketaev Temirgali , Bidaibekov Esen
Published: October 2019

In this article, we proceed to the performance properties of the nanoclusters, referring to the already changing their properties associated with the size impact. Consideration of size effects we start to build models of nanoclusters, which reflect changes in the dynamic stability of
atomic clusters, structural and electronic properties. The observed properties will be considered in comparison with model calculations and predictions. The process of formation of this cluster is accompanied by a discontinuity of symmetry, which can be distinguished on the specific structure
of the cluster. Clusters of the (Cu)n metals should have the simplest electronic structure with one s-electron in each atom over the filled electron shells and (Cu2O)n semiconductors with more complicated p–n transition.
Evolution of Oceanic Near-Surface Stratification in Response to an Autumn Storm
Authors: Lucas Natasha S. , Grant Alan L. M. , Rippeth Tom P. , Polton Jeff A. , Palmer Matthew R. , Brannigan Liam , Belcher Stephen E.
Published: October 2019

Understanding the processes that control the evolution of the ocean surface boundary layer (OSBL) is a prerequisite for obtaining accurate simulations of air–sea fluxes of heat and trace gases. Observations of the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy (ε), temperature, salinity, current structure, and wave field over a period of 9.5 days in the northeast Atlantic during the Ocean Surface Mixing, Ocean Submesoscale Interaction Study (OSMOSIS) are presented. The focus of this study is a storm that passed over the observational area during this period. The profiles of ε in the OSBL are consistent with profiles from large-eddy simulation (LES) of Langmuir turbulence. In the transition layer (TL), at the base of the OSBL, ε was found to vary periodically at the local inertial frequency. A simple bulk model of the OSBL and a parameterization of shear driven turbulence in the TL are developed. The parameterization of ε is based on assumptions about the momentum balance of the OSBL and shear across the TL. The predicted rate of deepening, heat budget, and the inertial currents in the OSBL were in good agreement with the observations, as is the agreement between the observed value of ε and that predicted using the parameterization. A previous study reported spikes of elevated dissipation related to enhanced wind shear alignment at the base of the OSBL after this storm. The spikes in dissipation are not predicted by this new parameterization, implying that they are not an important source of dissipation during the storm.
Topographic Control of Southern Ocean Gyres and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current: A Barotropic Perspective
Authors: Patmore Ryan D. , Holland Paul R. , Munday David R. , Naveira Garabato Alberto C. , Stevens David P. , Meredith Michael P.
Published: October 2019

In the Southern Ocean the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is significantly steered by large topographic features, and subpolar gyres form in their lee. The geometry of topographic features in the Southern Ocean is highly variable, but the influence of this variation on the large-scale flow is poorly understood. Using idealized barotropic simulations of a zonal channel with a meridional ridge, it is found that the ridge geometry is important for determining the net zonal volume transport. A relationship is observed between ridge width and volume transport that is determined by the form stress generated by the ridge. Gyre formation is also highly reliant on the ridge geometry. A steep ridge allows gyres to form within regions of unblocked geostrophic (f/H) contours, with an increase in gyre strength as the ridge width is reduced. These relationships among ridge width, gyre strength, and net zonal volume transport emerge to simultaneously satisfy the conservation of momentum and vorticity.
Epidemiological characteristics of subsyndromal depression in late life
Authors: Oh Dae Jong , Han Ji Won , Kim Tae Hui , Kwak Kyung Phil , Kim Bong Jo , Kim Shin Gyeom , Kim Jeong Lan , Moon Seok Woo , Park Joon Hyuk , Ryu Seung-Ho , Youn Jong Chul , Lee Dong Young , Lee Dong Woo , Lee Seok Bum , Lee Jung Jae , Jhoo Jin Hyeong , Kim Ki Woong
Published: October 2019

Objectives:

Subsyndromal depression is prevalent and associated with poor outcomes in late life, but its epidemiological characteristics have barely been investigated. The aim of this prospective cohort study is to compare the prevalence, incidence and risk factors of subsyndromal depression with those of syndromal depression including major and minor depressive disorders in community-dwelling elderly individuals.

Methods:

In a nationwide community-based study of randomly sampled Korean elderly population aged 60 years or older ( N = 6640), depression was assessed with standardized diagnostic interviews. At baseline and at 2-year and 4-year follow-ups, the authors diagnosed subsyndromal depression by the operational criteria and syndromal depression by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) diagnostic criteria. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors for incident depression.

Results:

The age- and gender-adjusted prevalence rate of subsyndromal depression was 9.24% (95% confidence interval = [8.54, 9.93]), which was 2.4-fold higher than that of syndromal depression. The incidence rate of subsyndromal depression was 21.70 per 1000 person-years (95% confidence interval = [19.29, 24.12]), which was fivefold higher than that of syndromal depression. The prevalence to incidence ratio of subsyndromal depression was about half that of syndromal depression. The risk for subsyndromal depression was associated with female gender, low socioeconomic status, poor social support and poor sleep quality, while that of syndromal depression was associated with old age and less exercise.

Conclusion:

Subsyndromal depression should be validated as a clinical diagnostic entity, at least in late life, since it has epidemiological characteristics different from those of syndromal depression.
The Concept of Skeletal Age
Authors: Johnston Francis E.
Published: October 2019

The uniqueness of the individual child is a biological fact that is readily recognized by students of child development. The applications of concepts based upon this realization involves the use of methods and technics which allow for the expression of this individuality. One can evaluate bio-physiological development in terms of the progressive maturation of the skeleton. The result is known, generally, as skeletal age, in which the two variables, biological and chronological age, are related.

The application of this principle permits a comprehensive assessment of growth status and growth potential in a particular child. Skeletal age is an excellent means of expressing the growth age of a child; at the very least it is a valuable adjunct.

At more specific levels, accurate estimates of adult stature can be obtained from the hand-wrist x-ray. Incomplete research indicates that other growth variables may be more confidently predicted, also. This ability to predict can be of distinct aid to those who work with children, and has applications in both physical and behavioral areas of study.
Reiter's Syndrome in Children: Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Margileth Andrew M.
Published: October 2019

1. Our experience with a six-year-old boy who had diarrhea, urethritis, conjunctivitis and arthritis is presented as a classical case of Reiter's syndrome. The patient recovered fully in a period of five months and has remained well during the past five years.

2. The cause of Reiter's syndrome remains unknown but in children may be related to Flexner bacillus dysentery.

3. The disease in children is usually less severe than in adults and all 11 children reported have recovered. The recent literature is reviewed.

4. Treatment with antibiotics is of no value and steroid therapy has not prevented exacerbations nor shortened the course of the disease.

5. The nongonococcal triad of urethritis, conjunctivitis, and arthritis is a distinct clinicopathologic entity which differs from known infections and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
The shapes of US cities: Revisiting the classic population density functions using crowdsourced geospatial data
Authors: Qiang Yi , Xu Jinwen , Zhang Guohui
Published: October 2019

The declining pattern of population density from city centres to the outskirts has been widely observed in American cities. Such a pattern reflects a trade-off between housing price/commuting cost and employment. However, most previous studies in urban population density functions are based on the Euclidean distance, and do not consider commuting cost in cities. This study provides an empirical evaluation of the classic population density functions in 382 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) in the USA using travel times to city centres as the independent variable. The major findings of the study are: (1) the negative exponential function has the overall best fit for population density in the MSAs; (2) the Gaussian and exponential functions tend to fit larger MSAs, while the power function has better performance for small MSAs; (3) most of the MSAs appear to show a decentralisation trend during 1990–2016, and larger MSAs tend to have a higher rate of decentralisation. This study leverages crowdsourced geospatial data to provide empirical evidence of the classic urban economic models. The findings will increase our understanding about urban morphology, population–job displacement and urban decentralisation. The findings also provide baseline information to monitor and predict the changing trend of urban population distribution that could be driven by future environmental and technological changes.
The contribution of Dutch doctors in Global Health and Tropical Medicine to research in global health in low- and middle-income countries: an exploration of the evidence
Authors: Mooij Rob , Jurgens Esther MJ , van Dillen Jeroen , Stekelenburg Jelle
Published: October 2019

Results from medical research from high-income countries may not apply to low- and middle-income countries. Some expatriate physicians combine clinical duties with research. We present global health research conducted by Dutch medical doctors in Global Health and Tropical Medicine in low- and middle-income countries and explore the value of their research.

We included all research conducted in the last 30 years by medical doctors in Global Health and Tropical Medicine in a low- and middle-income country, resulting in a PhD thesis. Articles and co-authors were found through Medline. More than half of the 18 identified PhD theses concerned maternal health and obstetrics, and the majority of the research was conducted in low-income countries, mostly in rural hospitals. Over 70 local co-authors were involved. Different aspects of these studies are discussed.
CFD simulations for examining natural ventilation in the learning spaces of an educational building with courtyards in Madurai
Authors: Subhashini S , Thirumaran K
Published: October 2019

This paper attempts to investigate the potential of courtyards in optimizing natural ventilation and improving comfort levels in the learning spaces of a naturally ventilated educational institution with courtyards in the warm-humid climatic region of Madurai. Field measurements and experimental studies were carried out to predict the indoor and outdoor environmental conditions. The numerical study was carried out using computational fluid dynamics-based simulations using Ansys Fluent as the solver. The main aim of the simulation is to understand the airflow pattern and air velocity fields inside the classrooms surrounding the courtyards for different wind directions. The computational fluid dynamics results were validated by comparing it with the experimental results obtained in the current study and numerical results from other studies. The major findings of the current study suggest that courtyards with an aspect ratio of 1:2, orientations of openings at an angle of 0–20° to the predominant wind directions and the overall percentage of openings between 15 and 30% in buildings in Madurai region can enhance natural ventilation and thus improve thermal comfort of the occupants.

Practical application: Naturally ventilated buildings in warm-humid climates have difficulty in providing thermal comfort to the occupants. CFD tools have been used to predict the ventilation performance of a naturally ventilated educational building with courtyards. The CFD results were helpful in identifying the implication of building design on the indoor air flow pattern. The recommendations given in this paper are applicable to any building type which relies on natural ventilation for thermal comfort provided they have similar building configurations, boundary conditions and weather conditions. The study is intended to help architects and building designers in the effective design of naturally ventilated buildings with respect to its climatic conditions.
Anticoagulation therapy could improve the restoration of sinus rhythm and spontaneous circulation in hospital patients with CPR
Authors: Wang Hai , Bai Zheng-Hai , Lv Jun-Hua , Sun Jiang-Li , Shi Yu , Pei Hong-Hong , Zhang Zheng-Liang
Published: October 2019

Objective

To analyse the role of anticoagulation therapy in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) following an in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Methods

This single-centre retrospective cohort study enrolled patients treated with in-hospital CPR that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients were divided into a without anticoagulation group and an anticoagulation group. The main outcome measures were the restoration of spontaneous respiration, restoration of sinus rhythm (ROSR), restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and the hospital mortality.

Results

The study analysed 344 patients: 272 in the without anticoagulation group and 72 in the anticoagulation group. Multiple logistic regression analyses demonstrated that anticoagulation therapy improved ROSR (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23, 3.96) and ROSC (adjusted OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.08, 3.40), but it did not improve the restoration of spontaneous respiration (adjusted OR 1.64, 95% CI 0.72, 3.76) and hospital survival (adjusted OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.40, 1.99).

Conclusion

Anticoagulation therapy improved ROSR and ROSC, but did not decrease the mortality rate of hospitalized patients undergoing CPR following in-hospital cardiac arrest.
Comparative study of xuesaitong injection and compound salvia miltiorrhizae injection in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction: a meta-analysis
Authors: Duan Xiaojiao , Zhang Dan , Wang Kaihuan , Wu Jiarui , Zhang Xiaomeng , Zhang Bing , Gao Xiaoyan
Published: October 2019

Objective

This study was conducted to systematically evaluate the clinical effectiveness of xuesaitong injection (XST) and compound salvia miltiorrhizae injection (CSM) in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction (ACI).

Methods

We searched several databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using XST and CSM for the treatment of ACI. Two researchers independently selected the RCTs and extracted information. The quality of included RCTs was evaluated, and then data were analyzed using RevMan5.3 and STATA 12.0 software.

Results

Twenty-three RCTs that enrolled 2101 participants were included in this study. A meta-analysis showed that XST with routine Western medicine (WM) can achieve a better effect than CSM with WM for the total effective rate ( RR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.18–1.27). In addition, XST combined with WM could improve neurological impairment ( MD = −4.65, 95% CI: −7.85 – −1.44) and hemorheological parameters. XST decreased the whole blood high shear viscosity, whole blood low shear viscosity, plasma viscosity, and plasma fibrinogen.

Conclusions

For treating ACI, XST combined with WM was more effective than CSM with WM. However, more evidence is needed to support the safety of XST and CSM.
Abnormal cardiovascular response to nitroglycerin in migraine
Authors: van Oosterhout Willebrordus PJ , Schoonman Guus G , Saal Dirk P , Thijs Roland D , Ferrari Michel D , van Dijk J Gert
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Migraine and vasovagal syncope are comorbid conditions that may share part of their pathophysiology through autonomic control of the systemic circulation. Nitroglycerin can trigger both syncope and migraine attacks, suggesting enhanced systemic sensitivity in migraine. We aimed to determine the cardiovascular responses to nitroglycerin in migraine.

Methods

In 16 women with migraine without aura and 10 age- and gender-matched controls without headache, intravenous nitroglycerin (0.5 µg·kg−1·min−1) was administered. Finger photoplethysmography continuously assessed cardiovascular parameters (mean arterial pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, stroke volume and total peripheral resistance) before, during and after nitroglycerin infusion.

Results

Nitroglycerin provoked a migraine-like attack in 13/16 (81.2%) migraineurs but not in controls ( p = .0001). No syncope was provoked. Migraineurs who later developed a migraine-like attack showed different responses in all parameters vs. controls (all p < .001): The decreases in cardiac output and stroke volume were more rapid and longer lasting, heart rate increased, mean arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance were higher and decreased steeply after an initial increase.

Discussion

Migraineurs who developed a migraine-like attack in response to nitroglycerin showed stronger systemic cardiovascular responses compared to non-headache controls. The stronger systemic cardiovascular responses in migraine suggest increased systemic sensitivity to vasodilators, possibly due to insufficient autonomic compensatory mechanisms.
Dynamic crushing force of rotational ellipsoidal composite shells-filled foam
Authors: Wang Xi , Jubing Chen , Guo Dan
Published: October 2019

This paper presents an analytical method to solve the dynamic crushing force and collapse characteristics of rotational ellipsoidal composite-reinforced metal shells with foam filler. The collapse model is firstly simulated by means of finite element calculation. Then, the feasibility of the analytical method is proved by a comparison with the finite element simulate. In example calculations, effects of some key parameters on the dynamic crushing force of rotational ellipsoidal composite-reinforced metal shells with foam filler are described and discussed. Results obtained can be used as a valuable reference for the design of protective structures resisting impact loads.
Importance of extracellular matrix dynamics after surgical implantation of acellular scaffold
Authors: Pan Tengfei , Tao Jian , Song Bingkui , Li Si , Qi Shuting
Published: October 2019

Extracellular matrix dynamics mediates many important biological activities including tissue repairing process. Acellular scaffolds would be involved in the extracellular matrix dynamics of the host tissue after in vivo implantation. The remodeling process of acellular scaffold is also the reestablishment of extracellular matrix dynamics in acellular scaffold. In order to study the role of extracellular matrix dynamics on the remodeling process of acellular scaffold, acellular bovine pericardium (S1) and acellular bovine dermis (S2) were prepared. The in vitro characteristics and in vivo performance for dura defect repairing were tested. The results indicated that extracellular matrix dynamics played an important role after surgical implantation of the acellular scaffold. The extracellular matrix dynamics of the acellular scaffold restarted along with the infiltration of the host cells. The thoroughly degradation of S2 showed that an equilibrium extracellular matrix dynamics in the acellular scaffold should be established and successful integration between acellular scaffold and auto-dura could not guarantee tissue regeneration. In addition, there was a close relationship between the in vitro characteristics and the in vivo performance of the acellular scaffold. The in vitro characteristics had big influence on the restoration of extracellular matrix dynamics. Acellular scaffold could actively take part in the extracellular matrix dynamics and remodeling itself subsequently. Therefore, acellular scaffold showed great advantages to other scaffold materials for tissue regeneration.
Clothing Pressure Modeling Using the Modified Laplace’s Law
Authors: Barhoumi H. , Marzougui S. , Abdessalem S. Ben
Published: October 2019

Today, various kinds of pressure garments are designed for specific applications in medical and sports fields. Knitted garments are the most used in these applications due to their high extensibility. The objective of the investigation reported in this article was to develop a theoretical relationship based on Laplace’s law, which describes the compression behavior of knitted compression samples in quasi-static deformation from an initially relaxed state to an extended state. Even though several researchers have used Laplace’s law, there is some discord between theoretical and experimental results. So, it is essential to pinpoint the most important parameters that influence the mechanical properties of the compression knitted garment in order to better describe the interface pressure it applies to the human body. Fabric parameters that influenced the interface pressure, such as elasticity modulus, strain, and thickness, were determined and integrated into Laplace’s law.