bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Education in Osteopathic Ultrasonography (AEIOU) Program: One Institution's Approach to Advancing an Ultrasonography Curriculum
Authors: Hendriksz Tami , Markman Zachary , Pera Abraham
Published: November 2018

Advances in ultrasonography (US) have allowed this technology to play an increasingly important role in numerous fields of medicine. It is important that medical schools incorporate this broadly applicable tool into their curricula. Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-CA has implemented a progressive US curriculum that is intended to complement osteopathic education, keep pace with medical advances, and arm future physicians with the most advanced skills and tools to practice medicine. In this article, the authors highlight the importance of US training in medical education and demonstrate the relative ease, cost-effectiveness, and direct benefit to students of implementing such a curriculum. The authors discuss the specifics of the US curriculum in osteopathic undergraduate medical education and describe how a staged rollout helped the college address the need for funding, faculty, and facilities. Plans for continued expansion, the successful and effective use of peer educators, the outcomes measured from this project, and avenues for further study are also discussed.
MOOCs as Disruptive Innovation in Higher Education
Authors: Hussin Kamarudin
Published: November 2018

The advancement of technology in higher education is always perceived as a valuable innovation that create better impact to the society. The advent of the Internet for instance, has magnificently created important features in learning environment globally. Higher education community optimizes the Internet as an essential resource, communication platforms and dynamic tools in their core teaching-learning, research, consultation activities, entertainment and many others. Moreover, innovations such as mobile technology has successfully broadened access to the Internet and related online services and facilities. Higher education institutions as the hub for technology development and innovation have invested in virtual learning environment to support current needs of global population. Related to this fact, e- learning modules and contents are offered across universities, and interested learners in

public communities are benefited by this opportunity. Educators and experts in higher education institutions are delivering their knowledge, discoveries and expertise via e-learning platforms and other supported technology. Equally important, e-learning has successfully expanded opportunities for lifelong and flexible learning, and offered a solution for practical issues and increasing student numbers. As a matter of fact, e-learning has been proposed as a promising way out for many complex issues such asfunding constraints, increasing demand and access to higher education while improving quality and high impact educational provisions in many countries. While addressing these issues, higher education administrators, educators, researchers and policy makers have developed responses in various frameworks. Initiatives such as Competency-Based Online Programs, development of open source materials, flipped classroom and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have contributed towards reducing cost of higher education as well as increasing access to higher education. MOOCs technology has proven its capability to reach massive audienceof about 30,000 students at a time. Across the globe, MOOCs offer free access to online course lectures, self- paced lessons, readings, problem sets, blogs, discussion boards, peer assessment and even online discussion group platforms for global students (Leon and Price, 2016). In 2017, MOOCs offered more than 9,400 courses with more than 500 MOOC based credentials according to data gathered by Class Central. Excitingly, MOOC platforms have recorded more than 81 million learners to date (Class Central, 2017).
UniMAP 2025: Foresighting for a Frenzied Future
Authors: Haroon Harshita Aini , Jamal Zul Azhar Zahid
Published: November 2018

George Orwell, the English author, in his book called “Nineteen Eighty Four” wrote about life set in the year 1984, painting a depressing picture of a world filled with propaganda, never-ending war, and a life occupied with pervasive scrutiny of one’s life by others. One of the tools Winston, the protagonist in the dystopian novel, has to contend with is the telescreen. Its functions are to monitor a person’s movement and capture their conversation where ever they may be, including in private places such as one’s own home. What is very compelling about the book, we find, is that it was written in 1949. Orwell was able to predict rather splendidly what he thought life would be like 35 years ahead of the time he wrote the book. Now, fast forward 69 years later, Orwell’s telescreen is really not very different from our smartphones and other social media devices. Our smartphones now not only keep information about us once we log in, but are able to gather information from our speeches even when we are not talking into it! Orwell’s 1984 is an epitome of foresight, as it is not only the telescreen in the novel that we can identify with in the 21st century, but many other aspects of the current sociopolitical goings-on in the world. If Orwell were still alive today, we would like to ask him – what would higher education be like in the next ten years?
O Contra Modelo da Heteronormatividade em Keith Haring (1958-1990)
Authors: Almeida Vinicius Santos
Published: November 2018

Este ensaio procura discutir a representação da heteronormatividade em homens gays feita pelo artista plástico Keith Haring. Ao mesmo tempo em que expôs uma imagem hipermasculinizada desses sujeitos na Nova Iorque dos anos 1970 e 1980, Haring desconstruiu tal imagem com o objetivo de acabar com a cisão e hierarquia entre os homens gays que estavam dentro do padrão másculo e viril e aqueles que estavam fora desse padrão. Para isso, ele criou o personagem One Man, a partir do qual exalta a superficialidade dos comportamentos da masculinidade exacerbada, reprodutora de uma norma heterossexual. Concluímos que Haring foi um artista que fez o queer, porque empenhou-se na desconstrução de uma regra social pautada nas hierarquias de gênero e sexualidade ao criar um contra modelo, representado pela ambiguidade do One Man.
Gênero, Sexualidades e Juventudes: Regulações e Subversões dos Corpos no Cotidiano Escolar
Authors: Nascimento Ana Paula Leite , Cruz Maria Helena Santana
Published: November 2018

O estudo problematizou as regulações de gênero e das sexualidades, evidenciando os corpos em cena no cotidiano da vida social e as marcas das regulações, subversões e resistências que atravessam o cotidiano escolar das juventudes. Nessa direção, problematizamos as regulações de gênero e das sexualidades, enfatizando as corporalidades silenciadas e/ou expressadas na vida cotidiana e no cotidiano da escola. Apresentamos dados da Pesquisa Nacional sobre o Ambiente Educacional no Brasil realizada em 2015 com adolescentes e jovens lésbicas, gays, bissexuais, travestis e transexuais, realizando um diálogo entre os interlocutores teóricos e empíricos (a partir dos dados coletados). Caracterizou-se como uma pesquisa quali-quantitativa e utilizou-se do materialismo histórico dialético enquanto método que perpassou o estudo. Constatamos que os corpos atribuídos aos homens e às mulheres são regulados desde a infância, tendo implicações no cotidiano da vida social e também escolar. Verificamos que não obstante as regulações criem parâmetros de pessoas que atravessam a vida cotidiana, as subversões e resistências dialeticamente estão presentes nesse cotidiano.
Não se nasce alfabetizadora, aprende-se a ser
Authors: Tuboiti Nair Cristina Da Silva
Published: November 2018

A proposta deste artigo, que se origina de uma investigação do doutorado, é analisar o sucesso profissional de professoras alfabetizadoras, em meio a uma formação que oportuniza cientificidade ao fazer docente, em meio à proposta didático-pedagógica pós-construtivista. Para isso, nos detemos em analisar os dados coletados por meio da entrevista sobre a história de vida e dos elementos que emergiram da observação participante em sala de aula e do grupo de estudos onde atuam. Uma elaboração a partir de uma abordagem interpretativa, que se inicia ao apresentar quem são, justificando a escolha por serem professoras, demarcando o encontro com o pós-construtivismo, o fazer profissional, o que as mantém trabalhando com essa proposta e outras evidências. Esse estudo permitiu observar que, mesmo sendo uma profissão marcada pelo feminino, é uma aprendizagem que se mantém pela solidez dos fundamentos da proposta e pela conquista de um lugar pautado pela cientificidade.
A Aula-entrevista como instrumento didático: um olhar para as diversidades
Authors: Maffini Suziane Felin , Laurendon Candy Marques
Published: November 2018

A escola precisa ser transformada, verdadeiramente reinventada, afim de que ela esteja adaptada ao contexto social, moderno e atual passando por profundas mudanças e exigirá, portanto, dos professores uma proposta mais flexível e plural, com uma atenção mais personalizada para os estudantes. Neste sentido, o presente relato de experiência objetiva trazer uma discussão sobre a importância atribuída a Aula-entrevista pelo/a professor/a alfabetizador/a e que uso ele realiza desse instrumento didático, mostrando os possíveis encaminhamentos lógicos e dramáticos que ele pode proporcionar. A Aula–entrevista é um dos instrumentos didáticos criados pelo Grupo de Estudos Sobre Educação Metodologia de Pesquisa e Ação (GEEMPA), Organização não Governamental, que trabalha com a formação continuada de professores alfabetizadores. Segundo Freitag (2011), a proposta do GEEMPA concretiza na prática o construtivismo de Piaget, dando um sentido didático para as elaborações teóricas de Ferreiro e Teberosky (1988). No contexto da alfabetização, a Aula-entrevista oportuniza um encontro individual entre professor e aluno possibilitando diagnosticar a zona de aprendizagem acerca da leitura e da escrita, ou seja, as hipóteses de pensamento do aluno. Para o professor, este instrumento permite orientar seu trabalho pedagógico, ao conhecer o universo cultural e as particularidades de cada um para lidar com a diversidade sociocultural presente na sala de aula.
Educação, Diversidade e Inovação
Authors: Laurendon Candy Marques , Tuboiti Nair Cristina Da Silva
Published: November 2018

Agradecemos, em primeiro lugar, a oportunidade de coordenar este dossiê, e poder assim contribuir para o debate no contexto da academia e de outros espaços. A elaboração dos autores desse dossiê demonstra o engajamento social, humano e político como forma de resistência a favor da liberdade de expressão e inserção de todos.
Incidence Trends of Atopic Dermatitis in Infancy and Early Childhood in a Nationwide Prescription Registry Study in Norway
Authors: Mohn Cathrine H. , Blix Hege Salvesen , Halvorsen Jon Anders , Nafstad Per , Valberg Morten , Lagerløv Per
Published: November 2018

Importance

With increasing prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) and its manifestation in most countries, together with the supporting evidence of the progression to other atopic phenotypes, AD has developed into a worldwide public health concern. The presence of the disease of has increased since the 1950s, but some recent studies suggest a stationary or decreasing trend.

Objective

To analyze a nationwide health register based on prescription data to determine the incidence rate (IR) of AD in an entire pediatric population.

Design, Setting, and Participants

All children resident in Norway younger than 6 years from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2015, were included in this cohort study. Medical diagnoses and disease-specific medications were used as a proxy for identifying children with AD in this population-based prescription registry study. The prescription study was terminated in 2016. The total number of 295 286 disease-specific prescriptions was analyzed from August 2016 through December 2017. The hypothesis was formulated before, during, and after the data collection.

Main Outcomes and Measures

All children with a medical diagnosis of AD or eczema based on at least 2 prescriptions of topical corticosteroids or at least 1 prescription of topical calcineurin inhibitors. Incidence rates per person-year (PY) and IR ratios were calculated.

Results

A total of 295 286 disease-specific prescriptions were dispensed to 122 470 children, of whom 63 460 had AD and 56 009 (88.3%) had reimbursed prescriptions and associated AD diagnoses. The annual Norwegian study population (aged <6 years) increased from 357 451 children in 2009 to 373 954 in 2015. The overall IR increased from 0.028 per PY (95% CI, 0.028-0.029 per PY) in 2009 to 0.034 per PY (95% CI, 0.033-0.035 per PY) in 2014. For children younger than 1 year, the IR increased from 0.052 per PY (95% CI, 0.050-0.053 PY) in 2009 to 0.073 per PY (95% CI, 0.071-0.075 per PY) in 2014. In this age group, the IR was 53% higher in boys compared with girls (IR ratio, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.49-1.57; P < .001). The incidence proportion before the age of 6 years was 17.4% (95% CI, 17.2%-17.7%). The primary seasons for the onset of AD were winter and spring.

Conclusions and Relevance

This nationwide study suggests an increase in the IR of pediatric AD, especially among children younger than 1 year. This study’s findings suggest that increase occurred with a higher IR during winter and spring seasons. Atopic dermatitis had an earlier onset in boys than in girls. During the study period, more than 1 in 6 children younger than 6 years had, at some point, been affected by AD.
3D Printing of Ultrahigh Strength Continuous Carbon Fiber Composites
Authors: Parandoush Pedram , Zhou Chi , Lin Dong
Published: November 2018

3D printing of continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) composites is increasingly under development owing to its unparalleled flexibility of manufacturing 3D structures over traditional manufacturing processes. However, key issues, such as weak interlayer bonding, voids between beads and layers, and low volume ratio of carbon fiber, in the mainstream fuse deposition modeling (FDM) and extrusion suppress the applications of these techniques in mission‐critical applications, such as aerospace and defense. This communication reports a novel approach, inspired by laminated object manufacturing (LOM), for 3D printing of continuous CFRTPs using prepreg composite sheets. The prepreg sheets are successively cut based on the sliced CAD geometry, and then bonded layer upon layer using a CO2 laser beam and a consolidation roller system. The void content is low by computed tomography scans and interlaminar bonding strength is as high as conventional autoclave method by lap shear strength tests. The excellent interfacial bonding strength and high volume ratio of continuous carbon fiber contribute to the highest reported tensile strength (668.3 MPa) and flexural strength (591.16 MPa) to date, for all 3D printed CFRTPs. Moreover, the proposed technique also enables controlling the alignment of carbon fiber in printed layers. CFRTPs with unidirectional [0°]s, cross‐ply [0/90°]s, and [0/‐45/0/45°]s fiber reinforcement are produced and evaluated for mechanical properties. The proposed 3D printing method is broadly beneficial for industries requiring high performance and lightweight structural materials with complex geometries.
Integrating Properties Modification in the Synthesis of Metal Halide Perovskites
Authors: Huang Ke , Liu Jinxin , Chang Xuejiao , Fu Lei
Published: November 2018

Metal halide perovskites have attracted enormous attention and show huge potential as promising building blocks of next‐generation optoelectronic devices owing to their unique optical and electrical properties. For further promoting their practical applications in various fields, the synthesis of metal halide perovskites with desired characteristics is essential to satisfy the requirements of their applications. The properties of perovskites are highly related to their crystal structures and chemical compositions. The optoelectronic properties of perovskites can be altered via decreasing their dimensionality owing to the quantum confinement effect, while enlarging the crystal size of perovskite can promote the construction of device arrays with homogenous performance. In addition, modifying the chemical composition of perovskites via alloying, doping, or controlling vacancies also greatly changes their optical and electrical properties. Thus, integrating the properties modification in the synthesis process of metal halide perovskites can not only improve the productivity of the desired perovskites but also provide a great opportunity to prepare designed crystals with predictable features. The exciting progress in the synthesis of metal halide perovskites with controllably tailored properties is summarized herein. It is hoped that these technologies can promote the development of perovskites.
Ultranarrow Graphene Nanoribbons toward Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Reactions
Authors: Zhang Jian , Sun Yuanmiao , Zhu Jiawei , Gao Zhonghui , Li Shuzhou , Mu Shichun , Huang Yunhui
Published: November 2018

Identification of catalytic sites for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR/OER) is critical to rationally develop highly efficient bifunctional carbon‐based metal‐free electrocatalyst. Here, a unique defect‐rich N‐doped ultranarrow graphene nanoribbon with a high aspect ratio that exhibits excellent ORR/OER bifunctional activities and impressive long‐term cycling stability in Zn–air batteries is successfully fabricated. Density functional theory calculations indicates that the topological defects (e.g., pentagons and heptagons) cooperated with pyridinic‐N dopants on the edges are more favorable to electrocatalytic activity toward ORR and OER. This work provides a new design principle for carbon‐based electrocatalytic nanomaterials.
Carbonylative C−C Bond Activation of Electron‐Poor Cyclopropanes: Rhodium‐Catalyzed (3+1+2) Cycloadditions of Cyclopropylamides
Authors: Dalling Andrew G. , Yamauchi Takayuki , McCreanor Niall G. , Cox Lydia , Bower John F.
Published: November 2018

Rh‐catalyzed carbonylative C−C bond activation of cyclopropylamides generates configurationally stable rhodacyclopentanones that engage tethered alkenes in (3+1+2) cycloadditions. These studies provide the first examples of multicomponent cycloadditions that proceed through C−C bond activation of “simple” electron poor cyclopropanes.
On‐fiber display of a functional peptide at sites distant from the cell surface using a long bacterionanofiber of a trimeric autotransporter adhesin
Authors: Nakatani Hajime , Kanie Junichi , Hori Katsutoshi
Published: November 2018

In the cell surface display system, the distance of a surface‐displayed molecule from the cell surface should influence its functionality due to the interference by other surface structures. For the purpose of developing this distance‐variable surface display system, we utilized a long fibrous adhesin, Acinetobacter trimeric autotransporter adhesin (AtaA) of the strain Tol 5. We constructed His‐tagged full‐length and shorter AtaA fibers designed by N‐terminal deletion and expressed them in the
ΔataA mutant. Immunoelectron microscopy clearly showed that they formed fibers on the cell surface and the His‐tag was displayed on the fiber tip located at fixed distances from the cell surface. N‐terminal deletion of AtaA shortened the distance between the His‐tag and the cell surface, as designed. Time‐course analyses of the cell‐to‐Ni‐Sepharose beads binding revealed that cells producing the longer fibers bound more rapidly to the beads. The His‐tagged AtaA derivatives were also displayed on
Escherichia coli cells, and a similar tendency was shown; the His‐tag on the longer fiber was more functional than that on the shorter one. Thus, we developed an on‐fiber display system of a functional peptide using a long trimeric autotransporter adhesin (TAA) fiber, which can vary the distance between the displayed molecule and the cell surface.
The role that small and medium‐sized enterprises play in sustainable development and the green economy in the waste sector, South Africa
Authors: Higgs Carla Jane , Hill Trevor
Published: November 2018

The South African government is actively promoting small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly in the waste sector, where it is envisaged that the waste sector will contribute to the green economy through SMEs participation in waste management activities. Collectively, SMEs have the potential to exert significant pressure on the environment through the use of finite resources and generation of pollution and waste. Case studies, where interviews and documentations were used as data collection methods, on waste management supply chains are provided. Many SMEs are responding to supply chain pressure in terms of the Broad‐Based Black Economic Empowerment Act and participating in social responsibility activities. However, the majority of SMEs are not environmentally responsible and larger corporations should consider managing environmental responsibility in the supply chain as part of an effective risk management strategy. Findings support the government's vision of the creation of employment, the promotion of small business within the waste sector, and the role that SMEs play in environmental responsibility. The later through extended producer responsibility in waste management and recycling of larger business and thus, sustainable development in South Africa.
Insulin pump exposed to radioactive iodine
Authors: Magdaleno Angela L. , Koshy Sharmila C. , Colucci Karen M. , Perilli Gretchen A.
Published: November 2018

Key Clinical Message

Insulin pumps are not typically assessed for malfunction after exposure to significant radiation. We assessed an insulin pump kept for 48 hours on a patient on hemodialysis who required radioactive iodine ablation treatment for thyroid cancer. On download inspection, the pump showed normal function.
A case of fulminant perimyocarditis leading to extensive ECMO treatment and spinal injury resulting in paraplegia
Authors: Magnusson Peter , Levin Charlotte , Mattsson Gustav , Vest Amanda R.
Published: November 2018

Key Clinical Message

Perimyocarditis has varying disease manifestations and prognosis. It may rapidly deteriorate into a life‐threatening state requiring advanced intensive care including veno‐arterial extra‐corporeal membrane oxygenation, which may be lifesaving. Close follow‐up is warranted to detect both short‐term and long‐term complications.
An unusual association of left‐sided gastroschisis and persistent right umbilical vein
Authors: Schierz Ingrid Anne Mandy , Pinello Giuseppa , Giuffrè Mario , Corsello Giovanni
Published: November 2018

Key Clinical Message

Gastroschisis is a full‐thickness congenital abdominal wall defect usually occurring to the right of the umbilicus. About twenty cases of left‐sided gastroschisis have been reported, without reference to the laterality of the umbilical vein. This first case highlights the importance of considering and reporting this association by the perinatal team.
Cognitive decline due to ectopic primary hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Nishimura Yoshito , Yamamoto Akira , Takahara Masahiro , Otsuka Fumio
Published: November 2018

Key Clinical Message

When you see a patient with cognitive dysfunction, hypercalcemia due to hyperparathyroidism is an important differential diagnosis. It is important to consider including chest computed tomography and 131I‐MIBI SPECT examinations in patients with possible hyperparathyroidism and normal thyroid ultrasound.
Gastric diverticulum of the antrum: An unusual endoscopic finding
Authors: Laskaratos Faidon‐Marios , El‐Mileik Hanan
Published: November 2018

Key Clinical Message

Gastric diverticula are rare and may sometimes cause diagnostic confusion. Most cases are asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally. However, sometimes they can cause a variety of clinical manifestations and may be complicated by bleeding, perforation, or malignancy. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of this unusual finding and the available management options.
Gas Chromatographic Enantioseparation of Fluorinated Anesthetics: Single‐Column Performance and Scale‐up Estimation
Authors: Mutavdžin Ivana , Munkelt Thomas , Enke Dirk , Seidel-Morgenstern Andreas
Published: November 2018

Results of a study devoted to provide the pure enantiomers of isoflurane and desflurane from racemic mixtures using gas chromatography are presented. For that purpose, a cyclodextrin‐based selector described in earlier work was immobilized on porous glass beads. The adsorption isotherms were determined and applied to predict operating parameters which provide the highest possible productivity of the separation. The analysis included evaluation of the performance of larger columns applying simplifying scale‐up considerations. Using repetitive batches, the method can provide per day with a laboratory scale column approximately 1 g pure enantiomer. Selected model predictions were validated experimentally.
Diversity of Biogas Plant Realizations
Authors: Kutsay Andrey , Kratky Lukas , Jirout Tomas
Published: November 2018

A techno‐economic analysis for four different types of biogas plant realizations was performed, including one biogas biorefinery concept. For each concept detail, a process flow diagram was created. Mass and energy balances were estimated. The net present value and payback were calculated for each concept for a better feasibility understanding. The results showed that with the used expensive substrate, namely, wheat straw, the obtained paybacks appeared to be more than 100 years. Sensitivity analysis was done for the price range of a substrate. Critical factors were defined to improve feasibility.
Solvent‐Limited Ion‐Coupled Electron Transfer and Monolayer Thiol Stability in Au144 Cluster Films
Authors: Bodappa Nataraju , Ren He , Dong Jin‐Chao , Wu De‐Yin , Tian Zhong‐Qun , Li Jian‐Feng
Published: November 2018

Voltammetric investigations were carried out for Au144 cluster films protected by 1‐hexanethiol (C6S) and 2‐phenylethanethiol (PET) in acetonitrile (0.1 M TBAPF6) and in water (0.1 M KPF6). The C6S‐protected Au144 cluster films show single electron charging behavior both in acetonitrile and water electrolyte systems. Whereas, the PET‐protected Au144 cluster films show charging behavior only in acetonitrile and not in water, although both electrolyte systems contain a common hydrophobic anion (PF6−). This discrepancy is attributed to solvent‐limited ion‐coupled electron‐transfer phenomena. Furthermore, spectroelectrochemistry was employed to study the thermal and electrochemical stability of PET on curved/3D (Au144 cluster films) and flat/2D (self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) of PET on a polycrystalline planar Au electrode) Au surfaces. At 4 mW laser power, the SAMs of the curved system remained stable; however, in the flat system, they irreversibly desorb from the surface. This was ascribed to the relative stability differences of the PET monolayer originating from the existence of different Au−S structures on the two types of Au surfaces.
Tuning Confined Nanospace for Preparation of N‐doped Hollow Carbon Spheres for High Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Du Juan , Liu Lei , Yu Yifeng , Hu Zepeng , Zhang Yue , Liu Beibei , Chen Aibing
Published: November 2018

The structural parameters and surface functionalities of hollow carbon spheres are critical for their electrochemical performance. Herein, preparation of N‐doped‐hollow carbon spheres (N‐HCS) with tunable structural parameters and surface properties is reported by using a confined pyrolysis strategy. Polystyrene/polyaniline (PSPAN) was pyrolyzed in a silica shell, which provided a confined nanospace. PSPAN functioned as both the core and a source of carbon and nitrogen. The surface properties and structural parameters of the obtained N‐HCS could be optimized by regulating the pore size of the silica shell. The silica shell coating also prevented agglomeration of the N‐HCS, leading to a regular and well‐distributed spherical morphology. The N‐HCS synthesized in relatively porous conditions had thinner shell, larger mesopore size, higher surface area, and higher nitrogen content and showed excellent electrochemical performance as a supercapacitor with a specific capacitance of 436.5 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1.
Development of product recommendation system with AHP according to alternatives’ evaluation with normalization allocation and Hough conversion
Authors: Yumoto Masaki
Published: November 2018

Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is an effective method for product recommendation, because each evaluation criteria are evaluated for target objective, and each alternative are evaluated for each evaluation criteria. This method recommends alternatives to the user according to the total degrees of weight, which is calculated from these 2 kinds of evaluation values. The determination of weight is hard work, because of many evaluations. This paper proposes a product recommendation system with AHP according to Normalization allocation and Hough conversion in order to evaluate alternatives. Normalization allocation can calculate automatically the evaluation value of the alternatives for every criterion. Hough conversion can extract the number of straight line elements from the target image. Through the experiment, it is confirm that the proposal system can recommend alternatives as well as the conventional system.
Taguchi's T‐method using median‐median line for small sample with outliers
Authors: Nishino Keisuke , Suzuki Arata
Published: November 2018

This paper proposes an improvement to Taguchi's T‐method. In product development, it is difficult to gather sufficient samples at the beginning of the development process. Taguchi's T‐method was proposed as a method for constructing an estimation model in such a situation. However, if an outlier exists in the training data, Taguchi's T‐method cannot obtain a correct estimation model. This is because Taguchi's T‐method uses the least squares. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an improved version of Taguchi's T‐method that does not degrade the accuracy of estimation by using a median‐median line even for small training samples with outliers. The effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed through experiments. We confirmed that the accuracy of the proposed method is superior to that of similar methods.
Optimization of Carbon Nanotubes as Conductive Additives for High‐Energy‐Density Electrodes for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Yoo Jung-Keun , Oh Youngseok , Park Teahoon , Lee Kang Eun , Um Moon-Kwang , Yi Jin-Woo
Published: November 2018

Development of a high‐energy‐density electrode to use in lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) is imperative for automotive applications. Although extensive efforts are put on developing high‐capacity cathode and anode materials for high‐energy‐density electrodes, challenging issues involving both the cathode and anode hinder practical application of the materials developed to date. Therefore, a practical approach to increase the energy density of LIBs is to design an electrode that has higher active material loading and a low fraction of nonactive materials. The present study demonstrates the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as conductive additives for a high‐energy‐density electrode and reports the effect of the content of CNTs and binder on the slurry, electrode, and electrochemical performance of a cell. The electrochemical results and thermomechanical analysis reveal that the conductive network formed by CNTs and the binder plays a role in maintaining electrode integrity, thereby influencing cycle retention. Moreover, an electrode resistance analysis combined with electrochemical results shows that the ratio of CNTs and binder is a crucial factor in determining the rate capability. This understanding of the conductive network of CNTs/binder offers an insight into strategies to design high‐energy‐density LIBs.
Enhancing the Power Output of Direct Carbon Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Using Ba‐Loaded Activated Carbon Fuel
Authors: Tang Huiqin , Yu Fangyong , Wang Yishang , Xie Yujiao , Meng Xiuxia , Sun Haibin , Yang Naitao , Tan Xiaoyao
Published: November 2018

The performance of direct carbon solid oxide fuel cells (DC‐SOFCs) is limited by the slow carbon gasification kinetics at operating temperatures. To address this limitation, a carbon fuel loaded with Ba catalyst is developed for DC‐SOFCs to improve the electrochemical performance in this study. Ba is loaded on activated carbon in the form of BaCO3 by the wet agglomeration technique. The effect of the Ba catalyst with various contents on the electrochemical performance in single cells and fuel utilization of DC‐SOFCs are examined. Experimental results show that the optimized Ba content is 5 wt% and the DC‐SOFC with this Ba‐loaded activated carbon fuel gives the best output with a maximum power density of 328.4 mW cm−2 at 850 °C. Furthermore, the DC‐SOFC fueled by 5 wt% Ba‐loaded activated carbon operates steadily for 28.76 h with the fuel utilization of 16.0%, which is also superior to many other cells. The enhancement of cell performance suggests that Ba is an effective catalyst to the Boudouard reaction, and the catalytic mechanism is also discussed in detail.
Highly Selective, Iron‐Driven CO2 Methanation
Authors: Williamson David L. , Jones Matthew D. , Mattia Davide
Published: November 2018

CO2 methanation has gained traction for its potential in renewable energy storage, though the high cost of renewable hydrogen production and costly metals used in methanation catalyst synthesis remain a significant barrier to implementation. Herein we present a Ru−Fe@NCNT catalyst, consisting of ruthenium and iron nanoparticles on nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes, as a highly selective, hydrogen efficient, iron‐driven alternative to typical nickel and ruthenium catalysts used for CO and CO2 methanation. Ru−Fe@NCNT offer competitive CO2 conversion and methane selectivity, and a reduction of up to 80 % in ruthenium loading versus similar literature and commercial catalysts. It is proposed that this desirable CO2 methanation performance, using an atypical optimal feed gas composition where PH2/PCO2=3, is the result of effective cooperation between the iron‐catalysed reverse water gas shift and methane‐selective Fischer‐Tropsch, and ruthenium‐catalysed CO methanation reactions.
Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials
Authors: Nikkhah Bodagh Mehrnaz , Maleki Iradj , Hekmatdoost Azita
Published: November 2018

Ginger, the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, which is used as a spice globally has a long history of medicinal use that stimulates investigators to assess its potential roles as an adjuvant therapy or alternative medicine in a range of diseases. Anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and antiulcer effects of ginger have been proven in many scientific studies, and some of the ancient applications of ginger as a home remedy has been confirmed in human. In this review, we summarized the current evidence on the effects of ginger consumption on gastrointestinal disorders based on clinical trials. Our data indicate that divided lower daily dosage of 1500 mg ginger is beneficial for nausea relief. Because of limited number of studies on some other gastrointestinal disorders, the results may not be as much powered as to find significant results. Therefore, more extensive and well‐controlled human studies of ginger or its standard extracts are required to demonstrate its efficacy as a gastroprotective agent. Dose‐finding studies should be undertaken to accurately determine the effective dose and preparation of ginger in further clinical trials protocol.
Modulation of the leniency bias in the discursive dilemma
Authors: Bodanza Gustavo , Freidin Esteban , Linares Sebastián , Delbianco Fernando
Published: November 2018

We experimentally approach the discursive dilemma to gain insight into people's procedural appropriateness judgments. We relied on a vignette in which three people had formed opinions about two skills (premises) of a candidate to decide whether to hire her/him (conclusion). The dilemma arises when different outcomes (hire vs. not hire) are achieved depending on whether the majority opinion is independently considered for each premise or for the global conclusion of each judge. Participants were asked to choose the procedure they thought to be more appropriate to reach a decision. In Experiment 1, we found a leniency effect (a bias to prefer the aggregation procedure that led to hiring the candidate), which was reduced by introducing the participant as a juror with an exogenously provided negative opinion about the candidate's skills. In Experiment 2, we replicated the opinion effect, even when subjects did not participate as jury members. In Experiment 3, we found that the leniency bias was only reduced when participants' negative opinion was aligned with a majority of negative premises, but not with a majority of negative conclusions. We discuss present findings in terms of the identification of empirical regularities that may affect people's procedural legitimacy judgments.
Telomere length, ZNF208 genetic variants and risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Hainan Li population
Authors: Ding Yipeng , Zhou Xiaoman , Wu Cibing , Li Quanni , Sun Juan , Niu Huan , Lin Daobo , Sun Dingwei , Xie Pingdong , Wu Duoyi , Zhao Jie , He Ping
Published: November 2018

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease characterized by airflow limitation. It is not completely reversible and shows progressive development. ZNF208 rs8105767 affects telomere length, although the impact of telomere on COPD is still controversial. In the present study, we aimed to explore the impact of the ZNF208 gene polymorphism on telomere length and also that of telomere length on COPD in the Hainan Li population.

Methods

In total, 270 COPD patients and 288 controls were recruited. Telomere length was measured by a quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms in ZNF208 were selected and genotyping was performed using MassARRAY software (Agena Bioscience Co. Ltd, San Diego, CA, USA). Differences in telomere length among the subjects with three genotypes of related genes were assessed using analysis of variance. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) as the indicator of association between telomere length and COPD risk.

Results

Relative telomere length in the COPD group and control group was 0.66 ± 0.47 and 1.44 ± 0.89, respectively. We grouped according to a median of 0.8284 for telomere length and observed that the risk of COPD for individuals with a telomere length less than 0.8284 is 2.92 times that for individuals with a telomere length longer than 0.8284 (OR = 2.92, 95% confidence interval = 2.01–4.25, p = 1.91 × 10–8). Subjects carrying the G allele of rs2188972 had a longer telomere length. Subjects carrying the carrying the CA genotype of rs8103163 and AC genotype of rs7248488 had a longer telomere length compared to wild‐type individuals.

Conclusions

Shorter telomeres increase COPD risk and the ZNF208 polymorphism affects telomere length in COPD patients.
Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Psychological Comorbidities Among U.S. Active Duty Service Members, 2006–2013
Authors: Walter Kristen H. , Levine Jordan A. , Highfill‐McRoy Robyn M. , Navarro Melissa , Thomsen Cynthia J.
Published: November 2018

Among active duty service members, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnoses have increased dramatically since 2000. Because psychiatric comorbidity is more common for PTSD than for other mental health disorders, we examined the prevalence estimates of disorders comorbid or trimorbid with PTSD in this study. The medical records of 523,626 female and male active duty Sailors and Marines who entered the U.S. military between 2006 and 2013 were examined for diagnoses of PTSD and 14 potentially comorbid disorders. Results showed that 1.8% of military members had a PTSD diagnosis; among those with PTSD, 83.3% had a comorbid mental health disorder, and 62.2% had a third (i.e., trimorbid) disorder. Most frequently, PTSD co‐occurred with depressive disorder (49.0%), adjustment disorder (37.0%), generalized anxiety disorder (36.1%), and alcohol use disorder (26.9%). All disorders we examined were significantly more likely to be diagnosed in service members with PTSD than in those without PTSD, odds ratios = 1.52–29.63. For service members with PTSD, comorbid mental health disorders are the rule rather than the exception. Consequently, it is important that clinicians also assess for other disorders and select treatment options that address both PTSD and comorbid conditions.
Optimization of optical current sensor based on rare‐earth magneto‐optical glass
Authors: Shen Yan , Ge Jin‐Ming , Liu Rui‐Tong , Fan Wei , Yang Ying‐Xuan
Published: November 2018

Compared to the present diamagnetic glass used in the sensing element of optical current sensors (OCSs), the high‐sensitivity characteristics of the rare‐earth magneto‐optical glass (REMOG) can significantly improve the performance of an REMOG sensing element. The optimization objective of this study was to enhance the sensitivity of the sensing element and reduce linear birefringence. Theoretical analysis and experimental data were combined to study the practical influences of a few factors, such as the size and spatial position of the glass, the wavelength of the incident light, and the rare‐earth doping concentration, on the sensitivity of an OCS sensing element. Finally, an optimal parameter combination was obtained. The experimental results showed that the response sensitivity of the REMOG sensing element is seven times the sensitivity using diamagnetic glass.
Bandwidth enlargement of low‐profile slot antenna using ground resonance mode
Authors: Moon Sungjin , Kim Hyeongdong
Published: November 2018

In this paper, we propose a method to increase the coupling between the ground and the antenna to improve the radiation performance of the mobile antenna. By adjusting the length of the slot antenna located at the center of the 48 mm × 15 mm ground resonating at 2.45 GHz, the coupling between the ground and the antenna can be controlled. When the coupling between the ground and the antenna is sufficiently strong, the ground resonance mode is strongly excited and a better radiation performance can be obtained. As the length of the slot antenna increases from 5 to 10 mm, the coupling between the ground and the antenna becomes stronger and the impedance bandwidth of −10 dB at 2.45 GHz becomes five times wider from 160 MHz (6.5%) to 780 MHz (31.8%).
A finite element method for localized erosion in porous media with applications to backward piping in levees
Authors: Rotunno Andrea Francesco , Callari Carlo , Froiio Francesco
Published: November 2018

This paper presents a computational method able to effectively model both the simultaneous processes typically observed in backward erosion piping, ie, the pipe tip propagation and the conduit cross‐section enlargement. The numerical method is based on the novel formulation of a problem of localized erosion along a line propagating in a multidimensional porous medium. In this line, a conduit with evolving transverse size is embedded, which conveys a multiphase flow. The two systems, porous medium and pipe, are bridged by exchange terms of multiphase fluid mass and by a shared fluid pressure field. On the contrary, different fields are considered to describe flows, which are assumed as Darcian in the porous medium and turbulent in the conduit. These two flows drive pipe propagation and enlargement, respectively, as modeled by means of proper erosion kinetic laws. The corresponding numerical formulation is based on the combination between one‐ and multidimensional finite elements, to model the erosion conduit and the porous medium, respectively. Several simulations are proposed to demonstrate the ability of the proposed approach in reproducing available experimental data of real‐scale tests on levees. Our results point out the crucial role played by the combined influence of pipe propagation and enlargement, as well as of three‐dimensional (3D) effects. We also assess the mesh independence of the proposed numerical solution, particularly as concerns the calculated pipe propagation history.
Dual androgen receptor (AR) and STAT3 inhibition by a compound targeting the AR amino‐terminal domain
Authors: Hua Yaping , Azeem Waqas , Shen Yunheng , Zhang Shoude , Olsen Jan R. , Øyan Anne M. , Ke Xisong , Zhang Weidong , Kalland Karl‐Henning
Published: November 2018

Prostate cancer (PCa) often recurs as incurable castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) after the failure of androgen deprivation therapy. CRPC development relies on androgen receptor (AR) signaling. The IL6/STAT3 pathway is also a key driver of CRPC. The crosstalk between IL6/STAT3 and the AR pathways provides opportunities to explore next‐generation agents to treat PCa. Through screening of around 600 natural compounds in our newly established prostate tumorigenesis model, potential STAT3 signaling inhibitors were found and additionally examined for effects on AR signaling. The small molecular compound 154 exhibited dual effects on IL6/STAT3 and AR pathways. We show here that compound 154 inhibits AR and STAT3 transcriptional activity, reduces the expression of phosphorylation of STAT3 (Y705) and downregulates the mRNA levels of AR target genes. Compound 154 also inhibits protein expression of AR and AR splice variants (ARv567es and AR‐V7) without altering AR mRNA levels. Compound 154 binds to AR directly, but not to STAT3 and is identified as an antagonist of the AR amino‐terminal domain (NTD) by disrupting protein‐protein interactions between STAT3 and the AR NTD. Moreover, compound 154 does not reduce AR nuclear translocation. Compound 154 possesses the potential to become a leading compound in novel therapies against CRPC.
Plasmon‐Assisted Energy Transfer in Hybrid Nanosystems
Authors: Glaeske Mareen , Juergensen Sabrina , Gabrielli Luca , Menna Enzo , Mancin Fabrizio , Gatti Teresa , Setaro Antonio
Published: November 2018

While direct optical excitation of carbon nanotubes activates only the tube species strictly matching the excitation source, excitation energy transfer processes provide a single excitation channel for all the nanotubes species in a sample. The requirement of an overlap between donor emission and acceptor absorption limits the poll of donors able to trasfer their excitation to the tubes, leaving the high‐energy part of the solar spectrum excluded from such processes. Here it is shown that the grafting of small metal nanoparticles to the tubes alters those rules, enabling energy transfer process from molecules for which the standard energy transfer process is strongly suppressed. The onset of an energy transfer band in the UV/blue spectral region is demonstrated for an hybrid gold‐pyrene‐nanotube system, yielding collective emission from all the tubes present in our samples upon excitation of pyrene.