bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Individualized, Data-Driven Digital Approach for Precision Behavior Change
Authors: Wongvibulsin Shannon , Martin Seth S. , Saria Suchi , Zeger Scott L. , Murphy Susan A.
Published: April 2019

Chronic disease now affects approximately half of the US population, causes 7 in 10 deaths, and accounts for roughly 80% of US health care expenditure. Because the root causes of chronic diseases are largely behavioral, effective therapies require frequent, individualized interventions that extend beyond the hospital and clinic to reach patients in their day-to-day lives. However, a mismatch currently exists between what the health care system is equipped to provide and the interventions necessary to effectively address the chronic disease burden. To remedy this health crisis, we present an individualized, data-driven digital approach for chronic disease management and prevention through precision behavior change. The rapid growth of information, biological, and communication technologies makes this an opportune time to develop digital tools that deliver precision interventions for health behavior change to address the chronic disease crisis. Building on this rapid growth, we propose a framework that includes the precise targeting of risk-producing behaviors using real-time sensing technology, machine learning data analysis to identify the most effective intervention, and delivery of that intervention with health-reinforcing feedback to provide real-time, individualized support to empower sustainable health behavior change.
Visual–inertial fusion-based registration between real and synthetic images in airborne combined vision system
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zhai Zhengjun , Niu Wensheng , Wen Pengcheng , He Lang
Published: April 2019

Combined vision system is a perspective display concept to enhance a situation awareness of the pilots during aircraft landing, which integrates a real 2-D image captured from forward-looking infrared camera with a synthetic 3-D image derived by the aircraft pose and terrain database. However, the inertial measured errors significantly affect the conformal display of combined vision. This article proposes a novel method for real and synthetic images registration based on visual–inertial fusion. It includes the following key steps: (1) detect and extract the real runway features from forward-looking infrared image; (2) generate the synthetic runway features simultaneously; (3) set up vision measurement model with real and synthetic runway features; (4) integrate inertial data and visual observations in the square-root unscented Kalman filter; (5) create a synthetic 3-D scene by the filtered pose data and integrate it with a real 2-D image. The experimental results demonstrate that our method can guarantee the conformal display of combined vision system in GPS-denied and low visibility conditions.
Effect of Skeletal Paracrine Signals on the Proliferation of Interzone Cells
Authors: Thampi Parvathy , Dubey Rashmi , Lowney Rachael , Adam Emma N. , Janse Sarah , Wood Constance L. , MacLeod James N.
Published: April 2019

Objective

Articular cartilage in mammals has limited intrinsic capacity to repair structural defects, a fact that contributes to the chronic and progressive nature of osteoarthritis. In contrast, Mexican axolotl salamanders have demonstrated the remarkable ability to spontaneously and completely repair large joint cartilage lesions, a healing process that involves interzone cells in the intraarticular space. Furthermore, interzone tissue transplanted into skeletal defects in the axolotl salamander demonstrates a multi-differentiation potential. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of this repair process remain unclear. The objective of this study was to examine whether paracrine mitogenic signals are an important variable in the interaction between interzone cells and the skeletal microenvironment.

Design

The paracrine regulation of the proliferation of equine interzone cells was evaluated in an in vitro co-culture system. Cell viability and proliferation were measured in equine fetal interzone cells after exposure to conditioned medium from skeletal and nonskeletal primary cell lines. Steady-state expression was determined for genes encoding 37 putative mitogens secreted by cells that generated the conditioned medium.

Results

All experimental groups of conditioned media elicited a mitogenic response in interzone cells. Fetal anlage chondrocytes ( P < 0.0001) and dermal fibroblasts ( P < 0.0001) conditioned medium showed a significantly higher mitogenic potential compared with interzone cells. Conditioned medium from bone marrow–derived cells elicited a significantly higher proliferative response relative to that from young adult articular chondrocytes ( P < 0.0001) or dermal fibroblasts ( P < 0.0001). Sixteen genes had expression patterns consistent with the functional proliferation assays.

Conclusions

The results indicate a mitogenic effect of skeletal paracrine signals on interzone cells.
Assessment of Rwandan diabetic patients’ needs and expectations to develop their first diabetes self-management smartphone application (Kir’App)
Authors: Kabeza Claudine B. , Harst Lorenz , Schwarz Peter E. H. , Timpel Patrick
Published: April 2019

Background:

Knowledge of and coping with diabetes is still poor in some communities in Rwanda. While smartphone applications (or apps) have demonstrated improving diabetes self-care, there is no current study on the use of smartphones in the self-management of diabetes in Rwanda.

Methods:

The main objective of this study was to assess the needs and expectations of Rwandan diabetic patients for mobile-health-supported diabetes self-management in order to develop a patient-centred smartphone application (Kir’App).

Results:

Convenience sampling was used to recruit study participants at the Rwanda Diabetes Association. Twenty-one patients participated in semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews. Thematic analysis was performed using Mayring’s method of qualitative content analysis.

Conclusions:

The study included 21 participants with either type 1 (female = 5, male = 6) or type 2 (female = 6, male = 4) diabetes. Participants’ age ranged from 18 to 69 years with a mean age of 35 and 29 years, respectively. Eight main themes were identified. These were (a) diabetes education and desired information provision; (b) lack of diabetes knowledge and awareness; (c) need for information in crisis situations; (d) required monitoring and reminder functions; (e) information on nutrition and alcohol consumption; (f) information on physical activity; (g) coping with burden of disease, through social support and network; (h) app features. This study provides recommendations that will be used to design the features of the first Rwandan diabetes self-management smartphone application (Kir’App). The future impact of the application on the Rwandan diabetic patients’ self-management capacity and quality of life will be evaluated afterwards.
Do electronic devices in face-to-face interviews change survey behavior? Evidence from a developing country
Authors: Bush Sarah Sunn , Prather Lauren
Published: April 2019

A large literature shows that survey mode and survey technologies significantly affect item non-response and response distributions. Yet as researchers increasingly conduct surveys in the developing world, little attention has been devoted to understanding how new technologies—such as the use of electronic devices in face-to-face interviews—produce bias there. We hypothesize that using electronic devices instead of pen and paper can affect survey behavior via two pathways: a wealth effect and a surveillance effect. To test the hypotheses, we use data from a two-wave panel survey fielded in Tunisia. We investigate whether responses collected in Wave 1 with pen and paper changed when some individuals were interviewed in Wave 2 by interviewers using tablet computers. Consistent with the wealth effect hypothesis, more than half of the lowest income respondents reported a higher income in the second wave when interviewers used tablets. Conversely, we find little evidence that concerns about surveillance changed survey behavior.
Distributive Leadership Functions, Readiness for Change, and Teachers’ Affective Commitment to Change: A Partial Least Squares Analysis
Authors: Thien Lei Mee
Published: April 2019

Although the literature abounds with factors that contribute to organizational commitment and commitment to change, it is still unclear what factors influence teachers’ affective commitment to change. This study attempts to examine the relationships between two perceived distributive leadership functions, namely, leadership team cooperation and participative decision-making, and teachers’ affective commitment to change with the mediating effects of intentional, emotional, and cognitive readiness for change. Data consisted of 229 Malaysian teachers selected randomly from 24 secondary schools in Penang, Perak, and Johor. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling approach. Findings revealed either leadership team cooperation or participative decision-making has no significant direct relationship with teachers’ affective commitment to change. However, significant but weak mediating effects were found between participative decision-making and teachers’ affective commitment to change with the mediators of intentional, emotional, and cognitive readiness for change. Limitations, implications, and suggestions for future studies are presented.
A Diabetes Screening and Education Program for Chinese American Food Service Employees Delivered in Chinese
Authors: Wang Yu , Buchholz Susan W. , Murphy Marcia , Moss Angela M.
Published: April 2019

Asian Americans have a higher prevalence of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared with White Americans. A two-phase evidence-based project developed specifically for Chinese American employees at an urban catering company worksite was led by a registered nurse/certified diabetes educator. The purpose of this project was to (a) identify Chinese employees at risk for T2DM, and (b) develop and implement a customized diabetes prevention program in Chinese. In Phase 1, Chinese employees were screened for T2DM risk factors using a Chinese version of the Canadian Diabetes Risk Assessment Questionnaire (CANRISK). Thirty-five people, who represented 58% of the Chinese employees, were screened; two were newly diagnosed with T2DM, and two were newly diagnosed with prediabetes based on the screening scores, nonfasting blood glucose, and hemoglobin (Hb) A1c tests. In Phase 2, 23 Chinese employees were interviewed and their remarks were used to modify the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). Six Chinese employees participated and completed the DPP. Risk scores, nonfasting blood glucose, and HbA1c were obtained and pre- and postprogram data were compared. Upon completion of the program, participants showed an average reduction of nonfasting blood glucose of 30 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L), and a reduction of HbA1c by 0.32 points (3 mmol/mol). This evidence-based project emphasizes the importance of screening for diabetes in the worksite setting and using linguistically sensitive materials.
Decoding the Role of Companions in Supporting the Health Communication of Older African-American Men With Cancer
Authors: Mitchell Jamie , Hawkins Jaclynn , Williams Ed-Dee G. , Eggly Susan , Albrecht Terrance L.
Published: April 2019

The objective of this study was to systematically characterize the content and patterning of companion’s communicative behavior during oncology consultations for older African-American male patients. Companions and family members often play an important role in patient-centered communication for patients with cancer. Despite their disproportionate cancer burden, little is known about how companions facilitate patient-provider communication for older African-American men with cancer. This study represents a secondary qualitative analysis of 14 video-recorded doctor patient-companion medical visits for African-American male patients with cancer. Videos were captured with consent and institutional review board approval at a Midwest comprehensive cancer center between 2002 and 2006. These medical visits were transcribed, deidentified, and analyzed for the content, frequency, co-occurrence, and thematic clustering of companions’ active participation behaviors during the interaction. Results were well aligned with existing studies on accompanied oncology visits. Patients were on average, 60.14 years old and all but one of the 16 companions was a woman. A total 782 companion behaviors were coded across 14 medical interactions. While companions communicated directly with providers (eg, asking questions, providing medical history) and directly with patients (eg, clarifying information, giving advice), there was a lack of triadic communication. This study clarifies the role of mainly spousal companions as important intermediaries in the patient-provider communication dynamic for older African-American men with cancer.
Stretching the Comfort Zone: Using Early Clinical Contact to Influence Professional Identity Formation in Medical Students
Authors: Schei Edvin , Knoop Hannah Sofie , Gismervik Malene Nordal , Mylopoulos Maria , Boudreau J Donald
Published: April 2019

Purpose:

To explore first-year medical students’ affective reactions to intimate encounters with severely sick patients in their homes, within a curricular innovation targeting the development of a patient-centered professional identity.

Background:

Early patient encounters create complex emotional challenges and constitute fertile ground for professional identity formation. The literature indicates that students often learn, largely through the hidden curriculum, to avoid and suppress emotion. This can culminate in mental health problems and loss of empathy.

Method:

A qualitative descriptive analysis of 28 randomly selected, mandatory, reflective essays focused on a home visit to a previously unknown patient, in an unsupervised group of 4 students, within the context of a structured course called Patient Contact—PASKON.

Results:

Students described a wide range of affect-laden responses, positive and negative, elicited by the home visits. The observations were typically related to loss of control, struggles to behave “professionally,” and the unmasking of stereotypes and prejudices.

Conclusions:

Medical students’ initial clinical encounters elicit emotional responses that have the potential to serve as triggers for the development of emotional maturity, relational skills, and patient-centered attitudes. Conversely, they can foreground uncertainty and lead to defensive distancing from patients’ existential concerns. The findings point to a role for structured educational strategies and supervision to assist students in the emotion work necessary in the transition from a “lay” to a “medical” identity.
Oxidative stress and neurobehavioural changes in rats following copper exposure and their response to MiADMSA and d-penicillamine
Authors: Quamar Shaheen , Kumar Jayant , Mishra Awanish , Flora SJS
Published: April 2019

An increase in copper concentration in body may lead to hepatolenticular degeneration which is considered as one clinical feature of Wilson’s disease. Chelation therapy using d-penicillamine is the preferred medical treatment for reducing the toxic effects of copper. However, a few shortcomings associated with d-penicillamine led us to search of an alternative antidote for copper toxicity. Monoisoamyl-2, 3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (MiADMSA), a potent arsenic chelator under clinical trial, has been reported to reduce system copper level. Thus, the present study was envisaged to explore the ameliorative effect of MiADMSA against copper toxicity. Copper pre-exposed animals (CuSO4.5H2O; 100 mg/kg; p.o., for 6 weeks) were segregated in different groups and were administered equimolar dose (0.3 mEq/kg/day; p.o.) of d-penicillamine and MiADMSA for 5 days. The effect of different treatments on spontaneous locomotor activity, muscle coordination, depression like behaviour and contextual fear memory was analysed using neurobehavioural battery test. Biochemical variables related to oxidative stress, zinc and copper concentration were determined in liver, kidney and brain. The results suggested that copper exposure led to oxidative stress in liver, kidney and blood, along with moderate effects in brain. Treatment with d-penicillamine and MiADMSA reduced liver copper load. MiADMSA produced more pronounced beneficial effect compared to d-penicillamine by increasing brain GPx activity. Our study suggests that MiADMSA might be equally effective as d-penicillamine in depleting body copper load. More detailed studies using different doses are required to suggest whether MiADMSA could be an alternative for d-penicillamine in reducing oxidative injury, neurobehavioural changes and depleting body copper burden.
WITHDRAWN—Administrative Duplicate Publication: Complementary Therapies as a Strategy to Reduce Stress and Stimulate the Immunity of Women With Breast Cancer
Authors: Abrahão Camila Aparecida , Bomfim Emiliana , Lopes-Júnior Luís Carlos , Pereira-da-Silva Gabriela
Published: April 2019

Abrahão, CA, Bomfim E, Lopes-Júnior LC, Pereira-da-Silva, G. Complementary Therapies as a Strategy to Reduce Stress and Stimulate the Immunity of Women With Breast Cancer. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine. 2019; 24.

Due to an administrative error, this article was accidentally published twice in Volume 24 with different DOIs.

The correct and citable version of the article remains:

Abrahão, CA, Bomfim E, Lopes-Júnior LC, Pereira-da-Silva, G. Complementary Therapies as a Strategy to Reduce Stress and Stimulate Immunity of Women With Breast Cancer. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine. 2019; 24. doi: 10.1177/2515690X19834169
Syringocystadenocarcinoma papilliferum with orbital invasion: a case report with literature review
Authors: Pagano Boza Carla , Gonzalez-Barlatay Joaquin , Ugradar Shoaib , Pol Melina , Premoli Eduardo Jorge
Published: April 2019

We present a case of Syringocystadenocarcinoma papilliferum that originated in the eyelid and extended into the orbit. These tumors are very rare and have the potential to metastasize. A literature review of all the previous cases has been compiled from the Medline, EMBASE, and PubMed databases. We found that the majority of cases present on the head and neck and up to 17% of cases showed metastatic progression. This is the first case to show orbital involvement and highlights the need to remain vigilant with such lesions, as they have a tendency to become aggressive.
Immune Checkpoint Blockade in PD-L1–Positive Platinum-Refractory Cervical Carcinoma
Authors: Tewari Krishnansu S.
Published: April 2019

The Oncology Grand Rounds series is designed to place original reports published in the Journal into clinical context. A case presentation is followed by a description of diagnostic and management challenges, a review of the relevant literature, and a summary of the authors’ suggested management approaches. The goal of this series is to help readers better understand how to apply the results of key studies, including those published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, to patients seen in their own clinical practice.

A 36-year-old white married mother of two small children presented with intermenstrual bleeding, dyspareunia, and pelvic pain. Because of significant lapses in health care coverage, she had had only sporadic screening for cervical cancer over the past 15 years. On evaluation with a vaginal speculum, her cervix was found to have been replaced by a friable lesion 5 cm in diameter. Biopsy revealed poorly differentiated, squamous cell carcinoma. Bimanual pelvic and rectovaginal examination, as well as radiographic imaging studies, were consistent with an International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB3 squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. She was treated with cisplatin-based chemoradiation (40 mg/m2 body surface area once per week with a planned total dose of 50 Gy using intensity modulated radiotherapy) plus high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (to bring the total dose to point A to 80 to 85 Gy). Despite missing eight radiotherapy sessions because of transportation issues, she had a complete clinical response. Fourteen months later, she developed severe pelvic and right flank pain. In the clinic, she was cachectic and reported significant abdominal discomfort that kept her from eating well over the past several months. She was no longer able to work as a medical assistant and spent most of her time confined to her apartment. Physical examination demonstrated a fixed, firm pelvic mass; a computed tomography-guided biopsy confirmed recurrent carcinoma, and staging scans disclosed a pulmonary metastasis.
Evolution of the Oropharynx Cancer Epidemic in the United States: Moderation of Increasing Incidence in Younger Individuals and Shift in the Burden to Older Individuals
Authors: Tota Joseph E. , Best Ana F. , Zumsteg Zachary S. , Gillison Maura L. , Rosenberg Philip S. , Chaturvedi Anil K.
Published: April 2019

PURPOSE

Human papillomavirus–positive oropharynx cancer incidence has increased rapidly in cohorts of US white men born during the 1930s to 1950s. It is unknown how the trajectory of the oropharynx cancer epidemic may be changing in the United States.

METHODS

Using US cancer registry information, we investigated whether increases in oropharynx cancer have continued into recent birth cohorts and forecasted the future burden across age, sex, and race/ethnicity subgroups. Log-linear Joinpoint regression and age-period-cohort models were used to evaluate incidence trends during 1992 to 2015 and projections through 2029.

RESULTS

Among white men, oropharynx cancer incidence increased rapidly in individuals born during 1939 to 1955 (5.3% per 2-year birth cohort; 95% CI, 4.8% to 5.7%), but this rate of increase significantly moderated in individuals born during 1955 to 1969 (1.7% per 2-year birth cohort; 95% CI, 1.0% to 2.4%). Should these birth-cohort trends continue, from 2016 to 2029 we forecast that incidence will increase dramatically in older white men 65 to 74 years of age (from 40.7 to 71.2 per 100,000) and 75 to 84 years of age (from 25.7 to 50.1 per 100,000), moderately in white men 55 to 64 years of age (from 40.3 to 52.0 per 100,000), and remain stable in white men 45 to 54 years of age (approximately 18 per 100,000). Accounting for population growth, we project an increase in annual number of cases in the United States from 20,124 (95% CI, 19,779 to 20,469) in 2016 to 30,629 (95% CI, 29,413 to 31,845) in 2029, primarily driven by older individuals (age ≥ 65 years; from 7,976 [95% CI, 7,782 to 8,172] to 18,072 [95% CI, 17,271 to 18,895]) and white men (from 14,453 [95% CI, 14,142 to 14,764] to 22,241 [95% CI, 21,119 to 23,364]).

CONCLUSION

The exponential increase in oropharynx cancer incidence in young white US men has ebbed, and modest increases are occurring/anticipated in cohorts born after 1955. Continued strong increases in incidence in cohorts born before 1955, and an approximate 50% increase in size of the US population age 65 years or older through 2029, portend a substantial shift in burden to elderly white men.
Detection and analysis of RNA methylation
Authors: Mongan Nigel P. , Emes Richard D. , Archer Nathan
Published: April 2019

Our understanding of the expanded genetic alphabet has been growing rapidly over the last two decades, and many of these developments came more than 80 years after the original discovery of a modified guanine in tuberculosis DNA. These new understandings, leading to the field of epigenetics, have led to exciting new fundamental and applied knowledge and to the development of novel classes of drugs exploiting this new biology. The number of methyl modifications to RNA is about seven times greater than those found on DNA, and our ability to interrogate these enigmatic nucleobases has lagged significantly until recent years as an explosion in technologies and understanding has revealed the roles and regulation of RNA methylation in several fundamental and disease-associated biological processes. Here, we outline how the technology has evolved and which strategies are commonly used in the modern epitranscriptomics revolution and give a foundation in the understanding and application of the rich variety of these methods to novel biological questions.
Construction and optimization of a ‘NG Morbidostat’ - An automated continuous-culture device for studying the pathways towards antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Authors: Verhoeven Els , Abdellati Said , Nys Patrick , Laumen Jolein , De Baetselier Irith , Crucitti Tania , Kenyon Chris
Published: April 2019

To obtain a detailed picture of the dynamics of antibiotic resistance development in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, we built a morbidostat according to the protocol of Toprak et al., adjusted to the specific characteristics required for the growth of N. gonorrhoeae. In this article we describe the adaptations, specifications and the difficulties we encountered during the construction and optimization of the NG morbidostat. As a proof of concept, we conducted a morbidostat experiment by increasing concentrations of azithromycin in response to bacterial growth. We started the experiment with two N. gonorrhoeae reference strains WHO-F and WHO-X. These strains were grown in 12 mL GC Broth supplemented with IsoVitaleX™ (1%) and vancomycin, colistin, nystatin, trimethoprim (VCNT) selective supplement for 30 days in a 6% CO2 environment at 36°C. Samples of the cultures were taken 2-3 times a week and minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of azithromycin were determined using E-test. The initial MICs of WHO-F and WHO-X were 0.125 µg/mL and 0.25 µg/mL, respectively. In less than 30 days, we were able to induce high level azithromycin resistance in N. gonorrhoeae, with a 750 and 1000 fold increase in MIC for WHO-F and WHO-X, respectively.
Lutein and zeaxanthin: The possible contribution, mechanisms of action and implications of modern dietary intake for cognitive development in children.
Authors: Loskutova Ekaterina , Shah Kajal , Flitcroft Ian D. , Setti Annalisa , Butler John S. , Nolan Yvonne , Paudel Nabin , Loughman James
Published: April 2019

Background:Studies suggest that lutein and zeaxanthin may be important for cognitive development in children, but a comprehensive evidence synthesis is lacking. The purpose of this evidence synthesis was to analyse the available data regarding the role of lutein and zeaxanthin for cognition in children and propose a theoretical basis for future studies.

Methods:The PubMed, Scopus, the ISRCTN registry and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies that evaluated the relationship between lutein and zeaxanthin and cognitive function in children. Reference list and ancestry searches were performed on relevant articles. A total of 543 articles were identified, of which six cross-sectional studies were included.

Results:The literature search revealed that the evidence concerning the effect of lutein and zeaxanthin on cognition in children is sparse. However, there is some preliminary evidence indicating a positive association between lutein and zeaxanthin and cognition in childhood.

Conclusions:The cross-sectional nature of the few studies available and the lack of RCT data indicates a need for further investigation before any firm conclusions can be drawn.
How to measure a Hill–Sachs lesion: a systematic review
Authors: Maio Marta , Sarmento Marco , Moura Nuno , Cartucho António
Published: April 2019

Quantifying bone loss is important to decide the best treatment for patients with recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability. Currently, there is no standard method available to make a precise evaluation of the Hill–Sachs lesion and predict its engagement before the surgical procedure. This literature review was performed in order to identify existing published imaging methods quantifying humeral head bone loss in Hill–Sachs lesions. Searches were undertaken in Scopus and PubMed databases from January 2008 until February 2018. The search terms were “Hill-Sachs” and “measurement” for the initial search and “Hill–Sachs bone loss” for the second, to be present in the keywords, abstracts and title. All articles that presented a method for quantifying measurement of Hill–Sachs lesions were analysed. Several methods are currently available to evaluate Hill–Sachs lesions. The length, width and depth measurements on CT scans show strong inter and intra-observer correlation coefficients. Three-dimensional CT is helpful for evaluation of bony injuries; however, there were no significant differences between 3D CT and 3D MRI measurements. The on-track off-track method using MRI allows a simultaneous evaluation of the Hill–Sachs and glenoid bone loss and also predicts the engaging lesions with good accuracy.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2019;4:151-157. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.4.180031
Effect on Soil Properties and Maize Growth by Alternate Irrigation with Brackish Water
Authors: Huang Mingyi , Zhang Zhanyu , Sheng Zhuping , Zhu Chengli , Zhai Yaming , Lu Peirong
Published: April 2019

Abstract. With growing competition for freshwater by industrialization and urbanization, brackish water irrigation has been increasingly used for agricultural production. One of major concerns is the accumulation of salt and its impacts on soil properties and crop yield. If properly managed, alternate irrigation with brackish and freshwater might alleviate the adverse impacts of salt on soil physicochemical properties and plant growth. To exploit proper alternate irrigation to minimize such impacts, a maize pot experiment was conducted at three stages (seedling, jointing and tasseling, and after tasseling) with three alternate irrigation methods (BFF: brackish-fresh-fresh, FBF: fresh-brackish-fresh, and FFB: fresh-fresh-brackish) and with three salinities (1.69, 4.81, and 7.94 dS m-1), respectively. The results show that compared to freshwater irrigation, alternate irrigation with high-salinity brackish water increased soil electrical conductivity by 4.1% to 207.4% and reduced soil infiltration rate by 19.2% to 51.9%. The adverse impacts were more prominent in FBF and FFB than in BFF due to the higher proportions of brackish water in FBF and FFB. High-salinity brackish water also caused salt stress on maize growth and decreased evapotranspiration, relative water content, intrinsic water use efficiency, and electron transport rate by 6.6% to 30.6%, 2.1% to 10.2%, 7.3% to 17.9%, and 7.2% to 39.6%, respectively, leading to reduced growth and productivity. The salt stress was more pronounced in BFF and FBF than in FFB because maize is more salt-sensitive during the vegetative stage. Overall, brackish water irrigation at the jointing and tasseling stage (FBF) caused the most severe impacts on both soil and maize, so freshwater is advocated at this stage. In BFF, due to sufficient freshwater irrigation at later stages, slightly saline irrigation can be applied at the seedling stage without evident adverse effects. Higher-salinity brackish water was used successfully in the after-tasseling stage (FFB), although salt leaching by off-season rainfall was needed after harvest for sustainable production. Keywords: Crop yield, Saline water, Salt stress, Soil salinity, Water use efficiency.
Type Synthesis and Application of Gear Linkage Transplanting Mechanisms Based on Graph Theory
Authors: Sun Liang , Zhou Yuzhu , Chen Xuan , Wu Chuanyu
Published: April 2019

Abstract. Type synthesis is an important step when designing innovations in mechanisms. To overcome the limitation of traditional gear train transplanting mechanisms in realizing a specific trajectory, a swinging linkage mechanism is introduced into the design of the transplanting mechanism. To design a crop-transplanting gear linkage mechanism (GLM), an automatic synthesis method based on graph theory is proposed in this article. First, the numbers of loops, links, joints and other parameters, along with unlabeled graphs, are calculated based on the structural characteristics of the GLM. The labeled graphs that correspond to the kinematic chain (KC) are then obtained by thickening the edges of the unlabeled graphs, and physically reasonable labeled graphs are derived from identification of the structural rationality of the corresponding structures. Based on the relative motion characteristics of the input and output links of the transplanting mechanisms, criteria for screening the gear linkage mechanisms represented by the labeled graphs are formulated, and the labeled graphs that are suitable for transplanting are calculated to enrich the configurations of the transplanting mechanisms. Finally, two examples are tested to verify the effectiveness of the proposed type synthesis method. Keywords: Gear linkage, Screening, Topological graph, Transplanting mechanism, Type synthesis.
Titanium dioxide fiber saturable absorber for Q-switched fiber laser generation in the 1-micrometer region
Authors: Rahman M. F. A. , Reddy P. H. , Paul M. C. , Das S. , Dhar A. , Baharom M. F. , Latiff A. A. , Rusdi M. F. M. , Wang P. , Dimyati K. , Harun S. W.
Published: April 2019

A passively

Q

-switched ytterbium-doped fiber laser
(YDFL) operating at 1062 nm was demonstrated by using a segment of
20 cm titanium dioxide-doped fiber saturable absorber
(

TiO

2

DF

SA). The

Q

-switched YDFL emerged stably with
tunable repetition rates ranging from 32 kHz to 53 kHz as the pump
power rose from 109 mW to 233 mW. Within this range of pump power, a
maximum output power of 10.1 mW, maximum peak power of 75 mW, and
maximum pulse energy of 191 nJ were obtained. The narrowest pulse
width of 2.55 μs was attained at the maximum pump power of 233 mW,
while the signal-to-noise ratio of the fundamental frequency was
47 dB. This demonstration reveals that the proposed

TiO

2

DF

SA is feasible for constructing a
flexible and reliably stable

Q

-switched pulsed fiber laser in the
1-micrometer region.
Clustering analysis of game-based learning: Worth it for all students?
Authors: Palomo-Duarte Manuel , Berns Anke , Yañez Escolano Andrés , Dodero Juan-Manuel
Published: April 2019

Game-based learning has proven to be effective for enhancing student motivation and learning outcomes. In this study, the authors first designed and then tested a 3D virtual world-based video game to support students in learning a foreign language. Two data mining clustering techniques are used to analyse the impact of the game on learning processes and outcomes. The aim is to classify students according to learning outcomes, by comparing specific language competencies, such as the grammar, vocabulary and writing, before, during and after a case study. The case study used here involved 102 undergraduate German language students from the A1.2 level (CEFR). The results obtained from the application of two different clustering techniques indicate that learners do not all benefit from game-based learning in the same way; some students might better develop language competencies through more conventional and guided learning approaches.
Realizing multiple literacies through game-enhanced pedagogies: Designing learning across discourse levels
Authors: Warner Chantelle , Richardson Diane , Lange Kristin
Published: April 2019

One of the primary struggles for scholars and practitioners of instructed foreign languages today is how to best teach language as discourse in all its complexity. Digital games, as massively semiotic ecologies, arguably offer a unique opportunity for language learners to experience that complexity in action. This article provides a model for teaching language as discourse in action through digital games, as a means of presenting language learners with opportunities to experience the complexity of text, genre and discourse. The model integrates three levels of discourse essential to digital gaming: (1) the designs of the games, (2) the interactions between gamers, both those that take part in the gaming platform (such as in-game chats) and those between participants in the classroom and (3) social discourses about gaming.
O moderno no progresso de uma cultura urbana, escolar e religiosa na constituição de um município mineiro
Authors: Pereira Jardel Costa
Published: April 2019

Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar o desenvolvimento urbano e educacional com base em categorias classificadas como “moderno” e de “progresso”. Tomando como referência a cidade de Lavras, localizada no sul do Estado de Minas Gerais e os seus acervos documentais, pretende-se demonstrar como o poder público municipal participou no surgimento de importantes instituições, entre elas a educacional. Por meio de uma pesquisa histórico-documental, demonstrou-se como a construção do urbano se tornou um fator importante na cidade de Lavras, sendo um indicativo de que a preocupação com a ordem social estava aliada à questão do progresso, bem como se defendeu a hipótese de que a instalação de escolas não foi um fator imediato e fundamental para o surgimento das vilas. Após a elevação da vila à cidade, o poder municipal estendeu a preocupação às questões sociais e educacionais, com a participação de uma elite modernista de intelectuais e educadores.
Drivers of Customer Loyalty towards Islamic Subsidiary Banks in the Northern States of Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Abdul Rahman Maria , Fairuz Ramli Mona
Published: April 2019

It is undeniable that customer loyalty contributes to the sustainability and success of the banking industry. With the intense competition in the industry, banks are now trying to retain their customers with the aim to increase their revenues. As there are disagreements among the variables that influence customer loyalty, this study examined the relationships between perceived value, image, satisfaction and loyalty in an integrative model. Analysis was done on data collected from 139 bank customers in the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia using Partial Least Squares. The results of the study revealed that perceived value and bank image led customers to experience greater satisfaction, resulting in customers to be more loyal to their banks. The research outcome contributes to the body of knowledge by integrating the four variables into one model and by testing the model in the banking industry. The findings from this study may assist bank managers to formulate strategies to increase their revenues through customer loyalty.
Optimization of Two Area AGC based Power System Using PSO Tuned Fuzzy PID Controller and PSO Trained SSSC And TCPS
Authors: Eappen Geoffrey , Shankar T.
Published: April 2019

Automatic generation control or AGC system is significant controlling system that operates efficiently to balance the load and generation in power system at minimum cost for economical operation. System frequency will vary from nominal value if there is mismatch occurs between generation and demand. Due to this high frequency deviation system may breakdown. A very fast, reliable and accurate controller is needed to maintain the system frequency within the range to maintain stability. In this paper the proposed model consisting of PID controller whose parameters have been optimized using PSO tuned Fuzzy Logic Controller and itâ€™s been compared with conventional PSO-PID controller. Each control area in power systems includes the dynamics response of the systems. The results contained in this paper present the strength of the particle swarm optimizer for tuning the Fuzzy based PID controller parameter for two area power system network, for better performance PSO trained SSSC and TCPS has been introduced to the system. The enhancement in the dynamic response of the power system network is verified. The output response of the proposed work is compared with conventional PSO-PID & PSO Fuzzy-PID based AGC system. Simulation experiments so conducted in MATLAB showed that the proposed system outperformed the conventional one by achieving better response.Â Â
Design of Power System Stabilizer using Flower Pollination Algorithm
Authors: Venkateswarlu S. , M Janaki , R Thirumalaivasan
Published: April 2019

The Power System Stabilizer (PSS) is a controller which is used to mitigate the instability of Low Frequency Oscillations (LFOs) in power systems. The condition of oscillatory instability can also cause the loss of generator synchronism. It is observed that the damping provided by PSS depends on the proper selection of its parameters. This paper presents the systematic method for the selection of PSS parameters using evolutionary nature inspired optimization technique called Flower Pollination Algorithm (FPA). FPA is employed for selecting the optimal parameters of PSS so as to mitigate the low frequency oscillations of generator rotor and thereby oscillatory instability. The system consists of Single Machine with PSS which is connected to Infinite Bus (SMIB) through a transmission line. The transient simulation validates the performance of the system with optimized PSS. The results show that PSS with FPA optimized parameters provides fast and stable response.Â Â
Development of a Self-Coordinated Algorithm for Demand Side Management in the Case of Aggregated Electric Vehicle in a Grid Integrated System
Authors: Thomas Polly , Karthikeyan S Prabhakar
Published: April 2019

Electric Vehicles (EV) are now a days proposed to serve the electric power grid bi-directionally by means of consuming energy from grid and also by injecting back the captive energy within the EV battery upon grid requirements. Thus EV and its known variants like Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and Plug-in Hybrid-Electric Vehicle (PHEV) possess unique rewards compared to the conventional fossil fueled vehicle. The increasing number of EVs integration with electricity network could have a significant knock on the performance and planning of a power system especially in the demand side management. The recent studies made by the National laboratory of U S Department of Energy clearly mentions the risks involved in EV integration in terms of its peak demand profile and spinning reserve profile. The work in this paper investigates the behavior of different types of EVs & its impact on the load profile in a grid connected system in terms of EV capacity, EV charging levels and EV penetration time. The charging profile thus obtained for the above different cases clearly conveys very significant and relevant information regarding its influence on the peak time demand. The peak time period is extended to late hours respective of the different charging conditions which has a definite impact of DSM. Also, an intelligent algorithm is developed to take care of the Demand Side Management (DSM) issues. For the same, the algorithm inputs the grid as well as the vehicle parameters. The uniqueness of the proposed algorithm is in its ability to avoid the communication complexities with the Independent System Operator (ISO) & aggregator.Â  The work is done after studying relevant market models of EVs having different similar or different characteristics.Â
A Comparative Study for Condition Monitoring on Wind Turbine Blade using Vibration Signals through Statistical Features: a Lazy Learning Approach
Authors: Joshuva A. , Sugumaran V.
Published: April 2019

This study is to identify whether the wind turbine blades are in good or faulty conditions. If faulty, then the objective to find which fault condition are the blades subjected to. The problem identification is carried out by machine learning approach using vibration signals through statistical features. In this study, a three bladed wind turbine was chosen and faults like blade cracks, hub-blade loose connection, blade bend, pitch angle twist and blade erosion were considered. Here, the study is carried out in three phases namely, feature extraction, feature selection and feature classification. In phase 1, the required statistical features are extracted from the vibration signals which obtained from the wind turbine through accelerometer. In phase 2, the most dominating or the relevant feature is selected from the extracted features using J48 decision tree algorithm. In phase 3, the selected features are classified using machine learning classifiers namely, K-star (KS), locally weighted learning (LWL), nearest neighbour (NN), k-nearest neighbours (kNN), instance based K-nearest using log and Gaussian weight kernels (IBKLG) and lazy Bayesian rules classifier (LBRC). The results were compared with respect to the classification accuracy and the computational time of the classifier.Â Â
Performance Evaluation of Frame based Adaptive Compressed Sensing and Non-Adaptive Compressed Sensing based on Average Frame Signal to Noise Ratio
Authors: S. Arulananth T. , Satheesh R. , Bhaskara Reddy P.
Published: April 2019

The primary inspiration of our work is to discovering upgrades in the current Compressed Sensing procedure that utilizations Non Adaptive Projection Matrix rule. Normal Frame Signal-to-Noise Ratio (AFSNR) is intended to evaluate the show of the Frame-Based Adaptive Compressed Sensing with the Non-Adaptive Compressed Sensing (CS). It is a developing sign securing strategy and straight gathers the signs in a compacted shape on the off chance that they are meager on some specific premise. Proposed approach utilizes Adaptive Projection Matrix in light of edge examination which gives fundamentally enhanced discourse recreation quality and decreases the noise levels.
Slip Velocity and Temperature Jump on Dissipative CASSON Fluid with CATTANEO-CHRISTOV Heat Flux Model: Spectral Relaxation Method
Authors: Gangadhar K. , V. Ramana K. , Kannan T. , Rushi Kumar B.
Published: April 2019

A numerical analysis is performed for investigating the slip flow of a viscous dissipative Casson fluid towards a stretching sheet with Cattaneo-Christov heat flux and variable viscosity. The nonlinear partial differential equations are transformed with appropriate similarity variables into a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Numerical solutions are carried out by using efficient Spectral relaxation method. Notable accuracy of the present results has been obtained with previous results in a limiting sense from the literature. It is found that thermal relaxation time has an inverse relationship with the fluid temperature. Interestingly, the fluid velocity is gradually decreasing with higher values of slip factor.Â Â Â
Construction of Reverse Super Edge Magic Total Graphs
Authors: Masthan Raju U. , Sharief Basha S.
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we investigate the adjacency matrix ofÂ  reverse super edge magic vertex graph and use this graph to construct other reverse super edge magic graphs with the same edge weight set. Additionally, by combining known reverse super edge magicÂ  labelled graphs, we give a construction for a new reverse super edge magic graphÂ Â
Effect of Thermal Radiation on Heat Transfer of Ferrofluid Over a Stretching Cylinder with Convective Heating
Authors: Gangadhar K. , Keziya K. , Rushi Kumar B.
Published: April 2019

In view of this we scrutinize the numerical solution using the Kellor box method for the natural differential equations which describes the MHD flow of ferrofluid over a stretching cylinder with thermal radiation and convective heating. Water as convectional base fluid containing nano particles of magnetite (Fe3O4) is taken up. Comparison between magnetite (Fe3O4) and non-magnatic (Al2O3) nanoparticles is also made. The relevant physical parameters appearing in velocity and temperature distributions are analyzed and examined with the help of Fig.s. To examine the correctness of the method an anology has been made with some earlier published results. It is noticed that by increase the strength of magnetic field, the percent difference in the heat transfer rate of magnetic nano particles with Al2O3 decrease. Further, convective heating and thermal radiation are highly influenced the temperature distribution of the ferrofluid.Â Â